INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Burma: Poverty

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of levels of poverty in Burma.

Alan Duncan: I refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Member for Congleton (Fiona Bruce), on 31 January 2011,  Official Report, columns 611-12W.

Burma: Trade Unions

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding his Department has provided to trade unions from Burma in the latest period for which figures are available.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development (DFID) has provided no funding to trade unions from Burma.

Latin America: Overseas Aid

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the Latin American Programme will be put out to tender in 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Alan Duncan: The Department for International Development's (DFID's) bilateral programme in Latin America has contracted over the past decade. The current programme of financial support to UK non-governmental organisations (NGOs) through the Latin America Partnership Programme Arrangement will end in March 2011. This programme was developed as part of DFID's graduation strategy from the region. DFID will not be extending this support after completion of the current programme.
	From April 2011, DFID will continue to support work in Latin America through contributions to multilateral organisations, including the Inter-American Development Bank, World Bank, European Commission and UN. DFID will also support a research programme focusing on lesson learning to ensure that other parts of the world can benefit from the development experience in Latin America.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what regulations his Department has introduced since 6 May 2010;
	(2)  what regulations his Department has removed since 6 May 2010.

Owen Paterson: My Department has made six statutory instruments since 6 May 2010. These are as follows:
	1. The Electoral Law (Polling Station Scheme) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2010 (SI 2010/1532);
	2. The Control of Donations and Regulation of Loans etc. (Extension of the Prescribed Period) (Northern Ireland) Order 2010 (SI 2010/2061);
	3. The Northern Ireland Assembly Members Act 2010 (Commencement) Order 2010 (SI 2010/1726 (C.90));
	4. The Local Elections (Northern Ireland) Order 2010 (SI 2010/2977);
	5. The Northern Ireland Assembly (Elections) (Amendment) Order 2010 (SI 2010/2892);
	6. The Northern Ireland Assembly (Minimum Period) Order 2010 (SI 2010/2944).
	A seventh is awaiting approval-the Control of Donations and Regulation of Loans etc. (Extension of the Prescribed Period) (Northern Ireland) Order 2011.
	My Department has responsibilities chiefly on constitutional, electoral and national security fields; they do not generally concern business regulation.
	In terms of repeals, the Electoral Law (Polling Station Scheme) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2010 revoked and replaced the Electoral Law (Polling Station Schemes) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1972 and the Polling Station Schemes (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1976.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts: Job Creation

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will establish a cross-Government group working in partnership with the private sector to develop a jobs and growth strategy for the creative industries.

Jeremy Hunt: Potential opportunities and barriers to growth in this sector are being considered as part of the cross-Government digital and creative industries growth review. As part of this, we are working in partnership with stakeholders and industry to address these challenges.

British Sky Broadcasting

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has discussed the proposed acquisition of BSkyB by News Corporation with  (a) the Prime Minister and  (b) officials or special advisers working for the Prime Minister since (i) the date he assumed ministerial responsibility for the policy area and (ii) the date he received the Ofcom report on the proposed acquisition.

Jeremy Hunt: As set out in the Enterprise Act 2002 I have to make the decision about the News Corporation BSkyB bid in a quasi judicial role. Therefore neither I nor my Department's officials or special advisers have consulted the Prime Minister or any officials or political advisers working for the Prime Minister on this decision.

British Sky Broadcasting

Ivan Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether any officials or special advisers in his Department have discussed the proposed acquisition of BSkyB by News Corporation with officials or political advisers working for the Prime Minister since the date on which he received the Ofcom report on the proposed acquisition.

Jeremy Hunt: As set out in the Enterprise Act 2002 I have to make the decision about the News Corporation BSkyB bid in a quasi judicial role. Therefore neither I nor my Department's officials or special advisers have consulted any officials or political advisers working for the Prime Minister on this decision.

Broadband

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will assess the effects on levels of digital inclusion of the revised timetable for the provision of universal broadband.

Edward Vaizey: holding answer 31 January 2011
	The Government's approach to broadband is to drive the rollout of superfast broadband to as much of the country as possible and to deliver at least a decent level of broadband access to virtually everybody as part of that commitment. That approach is underpinned by the work that BDUK conducted over summer 2010 examining the choice of cost effective solutions available to provide a minimum level of coverage to all premises without access to at least 2 MBps. Among the conclusions of that exercise was that a universal service commitment should not be seen as separate from the superfast broadband objective, but rather an integral part of pushing next generation networks deep into rural Britain. The £530 million allocated to support broadband rollout up to 2015 will help the UK achieve its aim of having the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015.
	Martha Lane Fox was re-appointed in June 2010, as the UK Digital Champion to champion the work to get everyone online and challenge the Government to go further on developing better quality, efficient online public services. The Government are committed to getting as many people as possible online by the end of the Olympic year, 2012.

Broadband

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport on what date he expects the criteria for application to the next round of Broadband UK funding pilots to be published.

Edward Vaizey: No specific date has been set. Broadband Delivery UK is working with local authorities throughout the UK to give them guidance on how to apply for the next round where bids will be invited from April 2011.

Communications and Creative Industries

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport pursuant to the oral answer of 20 January 2011 to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent Central,  Official Report, column 1001, what measure the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries used when he described the UK economy under the previous administration as bankrupted.

Edward Vaizey: My use of the term 'bankrupted' was measured by the fact that when the previous Administration public sector net borrowing in 2009-10 was £156 billion or 11.1% of GDP, the highest level in UK post-war history. The Government were borrowing one pound for every four they spent.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what regulations his Department has removed since 6 May 2010.

John Penrose: holding answer 31 January 2011
	The following statutory instruments sponsored by the Department have been revoked since 6 May 2010:
	The Ecclesiastical Exemption (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (England) Order 2010 revoked The Ecclesiastical Exemption (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (England) Order 2004;
	The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces (Amendment) (No.2) etc. Regulations 2010 revoked The Royal Parks and Other Open Spaces (Amendment) etc. Regulations 2010;
	The Welsh Language (Gambling and Licensing Form) Regulations 2010 revoked The Welsh Language (Gambling and Licensing Form) Order 2007.
	The first and third instruments are replaced by similar regimes provided for by the revoking instrument. The second instrument revokes provisions permitting charging for parking in Richmond and Bushey parks.

Football

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what data his Department holds on injuries sustained at football stadia by standing spectators.

Hugh Robertson: The Department does not hold the information requested centrally.
	The Football Licensing Authority (FLA) are responsible for ensuring that all spectators are able to attend sports grounds in safety, comfort and security through means of guidance, assistance and monitoring.
	I have asked the chief executive of the FLA to write directly to the hon. Member for Hove. Copies of the response will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Football: Anti-Semitism

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent reports he has received of incidence of anti-Semitism in football; what steps he has  (a) taken and  (b) plans to take to monitor this issue; what recent (i) meetings and (ii) representations he has received from (A) the Football Association and (B) representatives of the Jewish community on the issue; what response he gave; and if he will make a statement.

Hugh Robertson: While I have received no recent representations or held any recent meetings on the issue of tackling anti-Semitism in football, I remain fully committed to a sporting landscape free from all forms of discrimination. There is no place in sport for prejudice of any kind and Sport England and the Football Authorities are working together to tackle the problem.
	If it occurs, anti-Semitic or racialist chanting of any kind is an offence under section 3 of the Football (Offences) Act 1991, though this is a matter for the police and courts to determine on each case's merits.

News Corporation

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will place in the Library copies of the minutes of his meetings with News Corporation on 7 and 20 January 2011.

Jeremy Hunt: I wish to continue to be as open as possible while respecting confidential and commercial interests. It would not be appropriate to do so whilst the process is ongoing but I will publish all relevant documentation, including minutes of meetings, as soon as I am able.

Ofcom: Public Appointments

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what reports he has received on the future employment of the Director of Technology Resources at Ofcom; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: I have not received any such reports.

Ofcom: Public Appointments

John Thurso: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will discuss with Ofcom a review of its consultation document on Implementing Geolocation following the forthcoming departure from his post of Ofcom's Director of Technology Resources; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Vaizey: The matter raised is the responsibility of the independent regulator, the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which is directly accountable to Parliament. I am not aware of any reason why it would be appropriate to review the consultation on Implementing Geolocation.

Olympic Delivery Authority: North East

Ian Lavery: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport how many bids for contracts the Olympic Delivery Authority has received from companies based in the North East; which such bids were successful; and what the monetary value is of each such contract.

Hugh Robertson: As of December 2010, 21 companies in the North East are directly supplying the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), with a total spend to date of £9,644,108.
	Data from the ODA's eTendering system, covering procurements with an estimated value in excess of £25,000, shows that a total of 46 bids (or Pre Qualification Questionnaire applications) have been submitted by companies based in the North East.
	The ODA was established in April 2006 and set up its eTendering system in February 2007. Tenders under £25,000 are not tracked through the ODA's central procurement system. To establish where firms are based for tenders before February 2007 or under £25,000 would incur a disproportionate cost.
	The ODA Information on businesses that have directly supplied the ODA is available in the business section of the London 2012 website under the heading ODA suppliers, where you will be able to find suppliers listed by venue and sector:
	http://www.london2012.com/business
	These figures only account for the contracts awarded by the ODA to its own top tier of contractors (tier one contractors). The figures do not include the values of contracts further down the supply chain, in tiers two, three and so on, which are awarded by the tier one contractors and not by the ODA. For example, steelworks for the Olympic Stadium was provided by Geoffrey Maskell Engineering in Durham, and Newcastle based International Paint have supplied paint to the Aquatics Centre. The ODA estimates that the total value of supply chain contracts to the regions runs into hundreds of millions of pounds, but these are not public procurements and so the full value of contracts won across the UK is not captured by the figures provided. The ODA estimates that overall up to 50,000 contracts will be generated throughout its supply chains.

Olympic Games 2012: Cycling

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what plans he has to encourage more people to cycle to work as part of the Olympic legacy.

Hugh Robertson: The Department has overall responsibility for the sport of cycling, and responsibility for growing the sport rests with Sport England. Sport England provides funding to the sport's National Governing Body, British Cycling, to increase participation through its Whole Sport Plan and to contribute to the creation of a lasting sporting legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
	While the Department has no specific plans to encourage more people to cycle to work as part of the Olympic legacy, we will continue to work with the Department for Transport to create as many opportunities as possible to increase the number of people cycling, whether that be as a means of active travel or as a means of participating in sport.

Olympic Games 2012: Flags

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what his policy is on the flying of flags from Government buildings during the London 2012 Olympics.

John Penrose: holding answer 31 January 2011
	 The guidance on flying flags on UK Government buildings is available at:
	www.culture.gov.uk/what_we_do/honours/7125.aspx
	At this stage, we have no plans to change this guidance for the Olympics and Paralympics.

Piers: Public Finance

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport if he will assess the merits of making public funds available to rebuild or maintain seaside piers that have fallen into disrepair.

John Penrose: In the current fiscal climate, we have not considered making additional public funds available, but some listed piers may be eligible to apply to English Heritage for funding, who also contribute advice as part of their planning responsibilities, and from the Heritage Lottery Fund, where a strong case can be made for public benefit. In addition, some pier restoration projects in private ownership have been successful without public funding, for example Weston Grand Pier. The new 'community right to buy' provisions in the Localism Bill will give local groups a legal right to bid for and take over the running of threatened community assets which includes piers.

Sport England: Olympic Games 2012

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to work with Sport England to prepare to increase participation in sport after the London 2012 Olympics.

Hugh Robertson: I asked Sport England to work with DCMS to develop the Places People Play mass participation Olympic legacy programme. Places People Play was launched on 15 November 2010 and will help to upgrade sports facilities, protect playing fields and create the sporting opportunities and challenges to encourage people of all abilities up and down the country to get into sport-whether that be as a participant, leader or volunteer.

WOMEN AND EQUALITIES

Females: Corporate Boards

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what steps she plans to take to increase the number of women on corporate boards.

Lynne Featherstone: Lord Davies has been appointed by the Government to look at how obstacles can be removed to allow more women to make it to corporate boards. We look forward to his recommendations for a business led strategy and we will respond in due course.
	Measures that we are taking such as flexible working and parental leave provision will also help address some of the barriers to progression that women face in the workplace.

Government Equalities Office

Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what regulations the Government Equalities Office has introduced since 6 May 2010.

Lynne Featherstone: The majority of the Equality Act 2010 was brought into force by a Commencement Order on 1 October 2010. This Act consolidated and replaced nine major pieces of legislation and many other pieces of ancillary legislation. 20 Statutory Instruments relating to the Equality Act 2010 have now been made and published and are listed on the Government Equalities Office website, at the following link, which also makes clear the purpose of each:
	http://www.equalities.gov.uk/equality_act_2010/details_of_statutory_instrumen.aspx
	Decisions about outstanding measures and future secondary legislation will be made and announced in due course.

Government Equalities Office

Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities what regulations the Government Equalities Office has removed since 6 May 2010.

Lynne Featherstone: The Government Equalities Office (GEO) has not removed any regulations since 6 May 2010. However, the Government announced on 17 November 2010 that they had decided not to implement the socio-economic duty contained in the Equality Act 2010 as this was considered to be an unnecessary burden.

TRANSPORT

A11: Repairs and Maintenance

Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for the dualling of the A11 between Thetford and the Fiveways improvement scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: The Secretary of State for Transport's statement of 26 October 2010,  Official Report, columns 177-179, on Investment in Highway and Local Transport Schemes identified the A11 Fiveways to Thetford scheme as one on which the Highways Agency would start works before 2015, subject to the completion of statutory processes.

Departmental Official Cars

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what expenditure his Department has incurred on Government Car Service cars since May 2010.

Michael Penning: The Department for Transport has spent £132,522.50 (excluding VAT) on Government Car Service cars since May 2010. The total cost includes expenditure on the allocated car service provided to Ministers, expenditure on Ministerial Car Pool services and occasional use of car services for Government officials in place of using taxis.
	The Ministerial Code published in May 2010 stated that the number of Ministers entitled to an allocated car and driver would be kept to a minimum with other Ministers using a car from the Ministerial Car Pool as needed.
	Due to contractual obligations the Department was not able to put the new arrangements into place until September 2010, when the new Ministerial Car Pool service was introduced.

Driving Standards Agency: Cardiff

Peter Hain: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport for what reasons the Secretary of State for Wales was not involved in the decision to close the Cardiff office of the Driving Standards Agency.

Michael Penning: holding answer 20 January 2011
	The closure of the DSA Cardiff office is an operational matter for the DSA. The Secretary of State and I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Wales on a range of issues affecting Wales, including the restructuring of the Driving Standards Agency.
	We will continue to have such discussions regarding the proposed closure of the Cardiff DSA office throughout the consultation period but this remains an operational matter for the Driving Standards Agency.
	As an inquiry has been launched into how documents relating to the proposals were leaked it would be inappropriate to give any further detail on discussions or correspondence.

Electric Vehicles

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he has made an assessment of the extent of regional variation in the uptake of electric cars; and what plans he has to encourage uptake in areas which have reported lower sales.

Norman Baker: The nationwide Plug-In Car Grant was launched successfully on 1 January 2011 and will help both private consumers and businesses across the UK purchase an electric, plug-in hybrid, or hydrogen-fuelled car. We will monitor this developing market closely, including any regional variations.
	The Department for Transport has committed to publishing the number of new registrations of ultra low emission vehicles on an annual basis.

Great Western Railway: Electrification

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proportion of the funding required for the upgrade of the Great Western Main Line between London Paddington and  (a) Bristol,  (b) Newport,  (c) Cardiff, (d) Swansea and  (e) lines west of Swansea his Department is required to meet.

Theresa Villiers: The current programme of work to renew and upgrade the Great Western Main Line, along with the necessary financing, is undertaken by Network Rail. The expenditure is placed on the Regulatory Asset Base of that undertaking.

High Speed Trains: Property

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the monetary value of  (a) reductions in property prices and  (b) reductions in the area of usable farmland arising from the construction of High Speed Two.

Philip Hammond: It is not possible to accurately estimate the value of reductions in property prices arising from the construction of a new high speed rail line at this stage. This is because of the difficulty of making accurate predictions now about the property market response to a line which market would not be built and operational until 2026.
	Estimates of the amount of farmland which will need to be acquired in order to construct a new line will be included in the appraisal of sustainability, which will be published as part of the high speed rail consultation in February.

Highways Agency: Manpower

John Woodcock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the likely employee headcount at the Highways Agency at the end of  (a) 2010-11 and  (b) each of the three subsequent financial years.

Michael Penning: The Highways Agency's current estimate is that its total headcount will have reduced from 3872 full-time equivalent staff as at the end of April 2010 to 3,569 by the end of this financial year.
	We are currently in the process of developing our plans for achieving further savings during the spending review 2010 period and therefore do not yet have estimates for the number of staff in post at the end of the next three financial years as requested.

HM Coastguard: Training

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2011,  Official Report, column 83W, on HM Coastguard: manpower, how many people HM Coastguard has trained in each year since 2001; and how many of those trained remained in employment with HM Coastguard for more than one year after the conclusion of initial training.

Michael Penning: holding answer 31 January 2011
	The number of people who have received initial Coastguard training since 2001, and the number who have remained in employment with HM Coastguard for more than one year after they have successfully completed their training for the period 2003 to 2009 is set out in the following table.
	
		
			   Total trained  Total who passed their training and remained employed 
			 2003 39 38 
			 2004 30 27 
			 2005 35 31 
			 2006 36 28 
			 2007 42 35 
			 2008 35 33 
			 2009 18 17 
			 Total 235 209 
		
	
	Further to my answer of 24 January 2011,  Official Report, column 83W, in respect of 2001 and 2002, the data are incomplete and not in a readily accessible format.
	A full year has not passed since the majority of Coastguard courses ran in 2010, however the number of people who have received initial Coastguard training is 39, and the number remaining is 36 to date.

Intercity Express Programme Review

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which companies his Department has contracted to carry out consultancy work on the Intercity Express Programme; what the total monetary value is of each such contract; and how much each such company has been paid to date.

Theresa Villiers: holding answer 18 January 2011
	From the start of financial year 2005-06 until approximately 30 April 2010, the amount paid to companies carrying out consultancy work, rail industry advice, legal, financial, business case, technical, project management and procurement advice associated with both the Intercity Express and Great Western Electrification Programmes under the previous administration is as follows. These figures include the time spent by companies in response to Foster Review queries and expenses such as travel and meeting room hire, and exclude VAT and payments to individuals.
	
		
			   £ 
			 Barkers HR Advertising 16,632 
			 Capita Resourcing 431,218 
			 Clifford Chance 1,606 
			 Congress Centre 11,970 
			 Ernst and Young 161,042 
			 First Great Western 149,873 
			 First Class Partnerships 5,913 
			 Freshfields 5,644,844 
			 Jim Standen Associates 10,620 
			 Mott MacDonald 11,827,506 
			 MWB Business Exchange 1,903 
			 Nichols 2,938,071 
			 GNER, NXEC and East Coast Trains 1,233,895 
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers 2,791,582 
			 Reed Employment 51,054 
			 Steer Davies Gleave 1,235,628 
			 Willis Ltd 13,615 
			 Total 26,526,970 
		
	
	For the period from 3 May 2010 until 11 January 2011 the figures are as follows. Most of these costs constitute time spent by companies in response to Foster Review queries, and the continuation of the Great Western Electrification Programme.
	
		
			   £ 
			 Capita Resourcing 7,842 
			 First Great Western 22,261 
			 Freshfields 27,242 
			 Mott MacDonald 79,468 
			 Nichols 178,368 
			 East Coast Trains 46,574 
			 Steer Davies Gleave 82,343 
			 Total 444,098 
		
	
	The Department for Transport currently has live contracts with the following companies. The monetary amounts set out represent the maximum total authorised spend, not the amount remaining for each. As such, much of the work under these contract has already been carried out and invoiced for, and is included within the amounts in the previous tables.
	
		
			   £ 
			 Freshfields 3,600,000 
			 Mott MacDonald 15,000 
			 Nichols 15,000 
			 PricewaterhouseCoopers 25,000 
			 Steer Davies Gleave 45,125 
			 Total 3,700,125

Network Rail

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will bring forward proposals to increase the democratic accountability of Network Rail; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: The Government are committed to ensuring that Network Rail is properly accountable to its customers. As the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) announced in his statement of 7 December 2010,  Official Report, columns 15-18WS, on the future of the rail industry, the Department for Transport is currently working with the rail industry to devise a package of possible reforms, which could include reform of current industry governance arrangements. A further announcement will be made in due course.

Network Rail: Land

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his most recent estimate is of the value of land held by Network Rail which is surplus to railway requirements; whether he is taking steps to reduce such landholdings; and if he will make a statement.

Theresa Villiers: The circumstances under which Network Rail can sell or otherwise dispose of its operational land are set out in Condition 7 of its network licence, monitored and enforced by the independent Office of Rail Regulation. The purpose of the licence condition is to ensure that those parts of the Network Rail property portfolio which may be required for the future development of the railway, are retained for that purpose.
	Where consent is given by the Office of Rail Regulation, the decisions on whether, when and how the land should be disposed of are commercial ones for Network Rail. Network Rail is encouraged by the Office of Rail Regulation to maximise its income from all sources over each five-year funding period. This particularly includes the redevelopment of its land and property. Income generated by the company from sale on development of land and property assets is reinvested in the network.

Railways: Freight

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the Scottish government on improving rail freight links between Scotland and England.

Theresa Villiers: The Department for Transport has had no recent discussions with Transport Scotland specifically focussed on this issue.

Railways: Freight

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has to improve rail freight links between Scotland and England.

Theresa Villiers: Funding of and enhancement to the rail network in Scotland is a devolved matter for the Scottish Administration. In the last three years record levels of rail freight investment have been announced to support continued growth of the network in England and Wales, including £200 million towards the development of a Strategic Freight Network and over £150 million towards the provision of infrastructure enhancement for freight through the Productivity Transport Innovation Fund. This includes funding for enhancement to a section of the east coast main line which links England with Scotland.

Railways: High Speed Trains

Andrew Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what cost benefit analysis he has undertaken of the proposed high speed rail link between London and Leeds.

Philip Hammond: High level assessments of the economic case for several national high speed rail network options, each with links to Leeds, were contained in HS2 Ltd's report published in March 2010. In October 2010 I published HS2 Ltd's comparative economic case of two initial high speed rail network options, again, each with links to Leeds. The work on the Government's preferred initial network will be updated as part of the forthcoming consultation.
	The work already published suggests a link to Leeds is likely to be a strong part of the economic and strategic cases for high speed rail. HS2 Ltd is undertaking more detailed work on the economic case for the Leeds leg as part of the route engineering study which will report to me by December.

Rescue Services

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make an estimate of the expected savings to the public purse over the next 10 years of his proposals to reform HM Coastguard.

Michael Penning: Based on implementation of the modernisation proposals outlined in the consultation document 'Protecting our Seas and Shores in the 21st Century' it is envisaged that savings of around £60 million could be made over 10 years following the commencement of transition.

Sea Rescue

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 18 January 2011,  Official Report, column 664W, on sea rescue, what the name was of each member of the team; what relevant experience each such member had prior to their appointment; and what criteria were used to select them.

Michael Penning: holding answer 31 January 2011
	 As stated in my answer of 18 January 2011,  Official Report, column 664W, the proposals set out in the consultation document represent the collective, corporate position of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and its chief executive, Sir Alan Massey.
	It would be wholly inappropriate to name individually the full range of MCA and Department for Transport civil servants who have contributed to the development of these proposals over several years, or who were involved in the final creation of the consultation document.

Trust Ports: Finance

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether trust port borrowing is scored against his Department's balance sheet; and whether such borrowing is covered by his Department's capital departmental expenditure limit.

Michael Penning: Borrowing by the major trust ports in England and Wales scores on the Department for Transport's capital departmental expenditure limit because the major trust ports are classed as public corporations by the Office for National Statistics for the purposes of national accounts. However, public corporations fall outside the departmental accounting boundary and their borrowings are not included on the Department's balance sheet, as reported in the annual Department for Transport resource accounts.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

Karl McCartney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many test purchases of alcohol in drinking establishments by under-age children were carried out in  (a) Lincoln,  (b) Lincolnshire and  (c) England and Wales in each of the last five years; and how many such establishments were found to have sold alcohol to minors through such operations.

James Brokenshire: These figures are not collected centrally.

Antisocial Behaviour: Public Houses

Mel Stride: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what powers are available to local residents to address inappropriate behaviour from people outside public houses.

James Brokenshire: There are a number of powers available to local authorities and the police to tackle various types of inappropriate behaviour from people outside public houses. These include introducing a designated public places order, where individuals can be stopped from consuming alcohol in a public place, powers to direct individuals to leave an area if they are contributing to alcohol related antisocial behaviour and noise abatement notices which can be issued by the local authority.
	Additionally, any resident living in the vicinity of the premises, can apply to the local authority to call for a review of the premises licence. This will enable the licensing committee to attach further conditions if it considers it necessary to do so, to the licence, to address the problems being caused by people outside of the premises. These could include for example conditions on the smoking area of the public house, or not allowing anyone to re-enter the premises once they have gone outside.
	Additionally, we are proposing to amend the Licensing Act to ensure that the licensing authority has more powers to refuse to grant licences to, or to revoke licences from premises which cause problems for their local community. We are also proposing to remove the 'vicinity test' so that anyone can make relevant representations about a licensed premises, and have their concerns addressed by the licensing authority.

Bank Cards: Fraud

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had on combating bank card fraud; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: The Government are determined to tackle all types of fraud which is one of the reasons why we are creating a new Economic Crime Agency which will help to provide a new focus on complex economic crime.
	Figures published by the payments industry in October 2010 showed that card fraud losses in the first six months of 2010 fell by 20% compared with the same period in 2009. This was the lowest half year total for 10 years.
	The Home Office continues to work closely with the payments industry including actively supporting the Dedicated Cheque and Plastic Crime Unit, a specialist police unit funded by the payments industry which investigates cheque and plastic card fraud where there is an element of organised criminal activity. The Home Office provides additional funding to the City of London Police to carry out a lead force role in the investigation of serious and complex fraud throughout the country and also providing training and support to other forces which may also be investigating fraud. The City of London Police has also developed the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau through which law enforcement, private and public sector organisations share data about confirmed fraud.
	Home Office Ministers and officials have regular meetings with law enforcement and industry partners to discuss fraud-related matters.

Crime: Maps

Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans her Department has to encourage members of the public to make greater use of its CrimeMapper facility.

Nick Herbert: The Government are committed to making the work of the police more transparent and to replacing bureaucratic accountability with democratic accountability.
	Key to this is providing the public with easy access to information on crime and policing in their local area. This is why the Government have just launched street level crime data and maps which, for the first time, will enable communities across England and Wales to see what crime and antisocial behaviour has happened on their streets.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent steps her Department has taken to reduce its carbon emissions to meet the target of reducing central Government carbon emissions by 10 per cent. by June 2011.

Damian Green: The Home Office has a range of initiatives under way in order to meet the 10% target. Measures have included:
	Reductions in the size of the estate
	Improving heating, cooling and lighting controls and fittings;
	Replacing/removing inefficient equipment;
	Implementing good housekeeping measures;
	Greening ICT; and
	Raising staff awareness.
	The Department produces and makes public the progress made and measures taken to deliver the target. This can be found at:
	http://data.gov.uk/departmental-performance-co2-emissions-reduction-date

Departmental Marketing

Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to the public purse was of the manufacture and distribution of Department branded drinks coasters in the last financial year for which figures are available.

Damian Green: There has been no central spend on Department branded drinks coasters by the Home Office or its agencies. However, it is possible that individual teams may have commissioned such items on a small scale or for specific campaigns. A full search through our financial records for this information would be at disproportionate cost.

Deportation: Human Rights

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 25 January 2011,  Official Report, column 131W, on Deportation: human rights, for what reasons removal cases considered under  (a) Article 3 and  (b) Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights are not separately recorded on the Case Information Database used by the UK Border Agency; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: holding answer 31 January 2011
	Removal cancellations categories are recorded on the Central Information Database, such as 'Medical Issues' or 'Further Representations'. However the level of detail required to indicate whether representations relating to either article 3 or article 8 of the European convention caused the cancellation is not recorded.
	That level of detail has never previously been identified as information necessary for the management of removals performance.

Domestic Violence: Immigrants

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the future of the Sojourner Fund pilot from March 2011; and if she will make a statement.

Damian Green: The Home Office pilot project for victims of domestic violence with no recourse to public funds commenced in November 2009. In the strategic narrative 'Call to End Violence against Women and Girls' on 25 November 2010, the Home Secretary confirmed her intention to ensure that the Home Office continue to fund support for women in the UK on spouse visas who are victims of domestic violence until an effective and sustainable permanent solution is established.
	The Home Office has confirmed that funding will be available for the pilot to continue into financial year 2011-12 and that work on a long-term solution continues.

Drugs: Misuse

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which voluntary organisations working to prevent drug misuse her Department funded in 2010-11; and how much funding was provided in each case.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 20 December 2010
	The Home Office provides funding to voluntary, community group, charity and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations through the Positive Futures programme, a community based prevention programme targeting vulnerable 10 to 19-year-olds at risk of drug and alcohol misuse or crime in 91 areas. While the programme has a wider agenda, work delivered locally may include elements of drug prevention.
	The Department has funded 53 VCSE projects in 2010-11 to deliver Positive Futures in their local communities. The organisations and their grant allocations for 2010-11 are set out in the following table. The remaining 38 projects are local authority run but some do involve the VCSE in delivery of some aspects of their work such as the provision of activities or accredited training or learning programmes.
	In addition, Drug Interventions Programme funding to local partnerships to manage drug misusing offenders is used by some partnerships to fund VCSE organisations. This may include some elements of prevention but the Home Office does not monitor which organisations are contracted locally to deliver services nor the services that they provide.
	
		
			  Voluntary, community and social enterprise organisation  Positive Futures project  Positive Futures grant allocation for 2010-11 (£) 
			 Arsenal In The Community Islington 78,762 
			 Aston Football Club Birmingham Aston 36,500 
			 Brentford FC Community Sports Trust Ealing 75,000 
			 Catch22 Birmingham Kings Norton 58,000 
			 Catch22 Mansfield and Ashfield 37,500 
			 Catch22 Nottingham Radford and Hyson Green 35,000 
			 Catch22 Southampton 31,500 
			 Catch22 Southwark 100,942 
			 Catch22 Suffolk 93,450 
			 Catch22 Wolverhampton 58,000 
			 Charlton Athletic Community Trust Bexley 49,750 
			 Charlton Athletic Community Trust Dartford and Gravesham 42,203 
			 Chelsea Football in the Community Wandsworth Chelsea 43,964 
			 Colchester United Community Sports Trust Tendring 49,532 
			 Community Action North Devon 58,000 
			 Community Voluntary Group Liverpool North 77,175 
			 Corner House Youth Project Stockton 50,096 
			 Cranstoun Drug Services Wandsworth Roehampton 43,964 
			 Doncaster Community Arts Doncaster DARTS 45,000 
			 Fairbridge Greater Manchester Salford 83,744 
			 Fairbridge North Manchester Rochdale 79,966 
			 Football Unites, Racism Divides (FURD) Sheffield 63,500 
			 Great Yarmouth Sport and Leisure Trust Great Yarmouth 31,500 
			 Groundwork Lancashire West and Wigan Limited Preston 31,500 
			 Groundwork West Midlands Birmingham Handsworth 31,500 
			 Gymnation Gloucester 42,500 
			 Hoop Dreams Teesside 29,750 
			 Joint Activities and Motor Education Service Bradford Keighley 80,370 
			 Lambeth Community Programme Lambeth 72,000 
			 Lancashire Sport Partnership East Lancashire 49,065 
			 Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme Barking and Dagenham 31,200 
			 Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme Hackney 83,264 
			 Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme Newham 58,500 
			 Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme Tower Hamlets 65,000 
			 Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme Waltham Forest 80,000 
			 Lifeline Calderdale Calderdale 82,053 
			 Local Leagues Limited Birmingham Sparkbrook 42,500 
			 London Active Communities Brent 45,099 
			 London Active Communities Sutton 35,000 
			 Millwall Community Scheme Limited Lewisham 44,775 
			 Nacro Corby 55,500 
			 Nacro Leicester 36,550 
			 Nacro South Bedfordshire 32,400 
			 Nacro Walsall 35,458 
			 Notting Hill Housing Trust Hammersmith and Fulham 49,104 
			 Pertemps Coachright Sandwell 48,000 
			 Portsmouth Football Club Sports and Education Foundation Portsmouth 58,000 
			 Riverside Youth Trust Bristol Central 68,681 
			 Sporting Futures Derby 35,000 
			 Tottenham Hotspur Foundation Haringey Sports 40,000 
			 Toxteth Tigers Liverpool Toxteth 40,100 
			 Treyla Penzance 58,000 
			 Youth Moves Bristol Knowle and Filwood 83,455

Drugs: Misuse

Bob Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether her Department has  (a) undertaken or  (b) evaluated research on (i) harm caused by drugs and (ii) harm caused by the criminalisation of drugs.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 31 January 2011
	The Home Office has undertaken a number of research and analytical projects in recent years into the harms caused by drugs.
	The Department developed the drug harm index (DHI) in 2005 to measure the harms generated by illegal drug use in order to measure progress against a previous public service agreement target. This combined national indicators of various drug-related harms including those related to drug-related crime, community perceptions of drug problems, drug nuisance, and the various health consequences that arise from drug abuse (e.g. HIV, overdoses, deaths etc.) into a single figure time-series index. Results from the DHI were published for the period 2002 (the baseline year) to 2006.
	The Home Office has produced an estimate of the social and economic costs of Class A drug use for the reference year 2003-04 taking into account a range of quantifiable harms. This was published in 2006.
	More recently the Home Office undertook a national evaluation of drug treatment in England which found that drug treatment is effective in reducing the harms associated with problem drug use. This was published in 2009. Additionally, in 2010, the Home Office published research on the perceptions of the social harms associated with use of khat.
	(ii) The Home Office has not undertaken or evaluated any research into any harm caused by the criminalisation of drugs.
	 References
	Macdonald, Z. et al (2005) 'Measuring the harm from illegal drugs using the Drug Harm Index' Home Office Online Report 24/05.
	http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/rdsolr2405.pdf
	Singleton, N. et al (2006) 'Measuring different aspects of problem drug use: methodological developments' Home Office Online Report 16/06.
	http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/rdsolr1606.pdf
	Donmall, M et al (2009) 'Summary of key findings from the Drug Treatment Outcomes Research Study (DTORS)' Home Office Research Report 23.
	http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/horr23.pdf
	Crime and Drugs Analysis and Research Programme (2009) 'Measuring the harm from illegal drugs: a summary of the Drug Harm Index 2006.' Home Office Research Report 13.
	http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/horr13.pdf
	Sykes, W et al (2010) 'Perceptions of the social harms associated with khat use' Home Office Research Report 44.
	http://rds.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs10/horr44c.pdf

Drugs: Misuse

Julian Huppert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many substances are controlled under the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; and how many  (a) arrests,  (b) prosecutions and  (c) convictions there have been in respect of each substance in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

James Brokenshire: The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (1971 Act), controls in excess of 250 drugs by reference to their standard chemical nomenclature. In addition, simple derivatives from these drugs such as the esters, salts and stereoisomers are covered under the 1971 Act and in particular cases, generic definitions have been used to cover compounds relating to a controlled drug.
	The information requested on arrests is not collected centrally and cannot be broken down to the specific offence required.
	The arrests collection held by the Home Office is based on aggregated data and covers persons arrested for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only, by age group, gender, ethnicity, police force area and main offence group, for example violence against the person, sexual offences, robbery, burglary and drugs offences. From these centrally reported categories it is not possible to separately identify specific drug offences.
	The defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for drug offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 by drug type(1), England and Wales, 2009(2, 3, 4) can be found in the following table.
	
		
			  Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for drug offences under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, by drug type( 1) , England and Wales, 2009( 2, 3, 4) 
			  Drug type  Proceeded against  Found guilty 
			 Cocaine 8,469 7,999 
			 Heroin 8,056 7,318 
			 LSD 37 32 
			 MDMA 957 918 
			 Crack cocaine 2,227 1,803 
			 Methadone 248 229 
			 Methylamphetamine Crystal Meth 45 37 
			 Amphetamines 2,866 2,715 
			 Cannabis 21,827 20,095 
			 Anabolic steroids 13 15 
			 GBH Hydroxy-n-butric acid 6 5 
			 Ketamine Special 'K' or Club 'Horse Drug' 383 356 
			 (1) Only those offences are given in the table where the drug type is specified in the statute. (2 )The figures given in the table on court proceedings relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) The number of defendants found guilty in a particular year may exceed the number proceeded against as the proceedings in the magistrates court took place in an earlier year and the defendants were found guilty at the Crown court in the following year; or the defendants were found guilty of a different offence to that for which they were originally proceeded against.  Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services-Ministry of Justice

Forensic Science

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she has had with private sector suppliers of forensic science on their financial viability.

James Brokenshire: The financial viability of forensic suppliers was assessed as part of the procurement for the National Forensic Framework Agreement and continues to be monitored as part of the contract management process of the National Forensic Framework. Furthermore, the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) have been and continue to engage with forensics suppliers as part of the transition programme, and appropriate due diligence will take place for any transfers of contracts and capacity from the Forensic Science Service.

Forensic Science

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the effects on the objectivity of advice provided to police forces on forensic science of the provision of such services in-house.

James Brokenshire: The evidential value and integrity of forensic exhibits is tested under the intense scrutiny of the courts from the point of collection, through analysis and to interpretation and reporting. Each step in the process must be able to withstand these critical reviews. The Forensic Science Regulator is working closely with the police, the National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA), the private and public sector (Scottish and Irish laboratories) suppliers of forensic science services to produce a single quality standards framework that applies to all those organisations involved in varying stages of the forensic processes. The NPIA provide up to date advice and guidance through their own forensic experts and the ACPO-led Forensics 21 Programme, which has a performance and standards group chaired by DCC John Fletcher, Bedfordshire police.
	Police forces have their own forensic practitioners who support each other through 'expert panels' facilitated by the NPIA, and on many occasions take advice from the private sector suppliers. The police have ready access to different sources of reliable advice, as well as their own in-house knowledge and expertise.

Forensic Science

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will establish standards for forensic science investigations following the wind-down of the Forensic Science Service.

James Brokenshire: The Forensic Science Regulator was appointed to set and monitor quality standards in forensic science across the board; he is working closely with the police, the National Policing Improvement Agency and the private sector laboratories to develop a single quality standards framework. The regulator is a member of the Forensic Science Service Transition Board and will monitor the movement of forensic science services to ensure that quality standards are maintained. All the private sector forensic science laboratories across the UK work to demanding quality standards and are accredited against BS/EN ISO 17025 (General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories) by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service. This is the standard adopted by the Forensic Science Regulator for forensic science laboratory functions and is a requirement of the police contracts with the laboratories. ISO 17025 is also the standard being adopted by the police in-house fingerprint enhancement laboratories with an NPIA-led project to co-ordinate the adoption of the standard by all police forces, in line with the European Union framework decision which mandates it, by 2015.

Forensic Science

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place in the Library a copy of her assessment of the future development of the private sector forensic science market.

James Brokenshire: My written ministerial statement on Forensic Science of 14 December 2010,  Official Report, columns 94-96WS, set out how we see the market developing. We want to see the UK forensic science market operating as a genuine market with private sector providers competing to provide innovative services at the lowest cost. It also set out our priority of continued provision of effective forensics.
	The police assessment is that the external forensics market will continue to fall over the next few years, as forces seek to maximise efficiencies in this area. This advice, based on the advice from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) and others, suggests that this market will reduce from £170 million in 2009 towards around £110 million by 2015.

Forensic Science

Diana Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the level of scientific innovation by the Forensic Science Service; and if she will make a statement.

James Brokenshire: Research and development in forensic science is essential to ensure the continued availability of a high quality, efficient, forensic science capability for the Criminal Justice System. Unfortunately the Forensic Science Service (FSS') financial difficulties had already limited the company's capacity for research and innovation. We are working closely with the police, the FSS, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and other forensics providers to look at how we can help the industry to build on existing expertise and continue the innovation for which the UK has become globally renowned.
	As I announced on 27 January 2011,  Official Report, column 21WS, in a written ministerial statement, the Home Office's chief scientific adviser, Professor Bernard Silverman, is to carry out a review of research and development in forensic science in the UK. The review will consult widely with forensic service providers and related organisations in the public and private sectors, academia and research funders, as well as issuing an open call for submissions of evidence. The review will also work closely with the National Policing Improvement Agency, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) and police service customers.

Immigrants: Detainees

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what proportion of persons currently detained under Immigration Act powers are  (a) appealing against their detention and  (b) making applications to remain in the UK.

Damian Green: The number of people currently detained under Immigration Act powers is 2,893. This is a snap shot taken on 25 January.
	Persons detained may apply for bail either from the UK Border Agency or a court. The number of persons who have outstanding applications for bail is 407, which is 14% of those detained.
	The number of people who are currently detained and are currently making an application to remain in the UK is 1,016 which represent 35% of those detained.
	All figures quoted are internal management information only and are subject to change. This information has not been quality assured under National Statistics protocols.

Immigration Controls

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what timescale she has set for reviewing the salary threshold for Tier 2 immigration applications;
	(2)  what criteria her Department used in setting the salary threshold for Tier 2 migrants.

Damian Green: holding answer 31 January 2011
	Under the changes to Tier 2 announced by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) on 23 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 169-171, the minimum salary threshold for an intra-company transferee seeking admission to the United Kingdom for more than 12 months will rise to £40,000.
	This is considered to be a salary level commensurate with type of worker we are obliged to admit as an intra-company transferee under the terms of the relevant international agreements by which the UK is bound.

Immigration Controls

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions she had with the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills on industry demand to recruit specialists, not available within the EU, prior to setting the new rules in respect of Tier 1 and Tier 2 migrants.

Damian Green: holding answer 31 January 2011
	The Secretary of State for the Home Department has regular discussions with ministerial colleagues, including the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, on a range of issues, and will continue to do so to develop and implement the Government's policies, including the measures set out in the Home Secretary's statement of 23 November 2010,  Official Report, columns 169-171, on implementing limits on immigration.

Members: Correspondence

Michael Crockart: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she plans to respond to the letters from the hon. Member for Edinburgh West of 2 November and 20 December 2010 in regard to her constituent Mr Ronald Fraser.

David Lidington: I have been asked to reply.
	The letter of 2 November 2010 to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May) from my hon. Friend was transferred to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 26 January 2011. We will answer this letter as soon as possible.

Metropolitan Police

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment she has made of the potential effects of implementation of the provisions of the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill on the night-time work of the Metropolitan Police Service.

James Brokenshire: The alcohol provisions in the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill are designed to ensure that local communities have more of a say in the decisions taken in their local area. The Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill introduces a late night levy where 70% of the net revenue raised will be passed to the police by licensing authorities who choose to implement it. The police could use this revenue to pay for late night policing linked to alcohol related crime and disorder. In addition, the amendments to early morning restriction orders will assist the police and local authorities to take action that reflects the needs of their local communities in policing the night time economy.

Vetting

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how much money was received by the Criminal Records Bureau in income from fees from each type of registered body and umbrella group in 2009-10;
	(2)  how many Criminal Records Bureau disclosures were issued for each type of registered body and umbrella group in 2009-10.

Lynne Featherstone: In 2009-10 the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) received a total income of £123 million from fees. Information relating to fees is held on a separate system from that which provides the figures for the number of certificates issued therefore the Bureau is unable to provide a breakdown in the format requested.
	During this period the Bureau issued 4,294,977 certificates to Registered Bodies. Of these, 2,495,017 were issued to organisations that are known to operate an Umbrella Body service. I should also note that 933,271 applications were for voluntary positions which the Bureau issues free of charge.
	I should explain that there is no legal definition of an Umbrella Body. These are Registered Bodies that are willing to submit applications on behalf of other organisations that are not eligible to submit CRB checks themselves.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the contribution of the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund to the UK biodiversity target.

Richard Benyon: Although no separate assessment has been made of the contribution of the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) itself, the Mineral Restoration Potential Project, which was funded by the Fund, found that minerals sites could make a very significant contribution to UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) targets for habitat creation. Some of the priority habitats which could most benefit are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Priority habitat  Potential contribution made by England mineral sites to BAP target (ha)  Potential contribution made by England mineral sites to BAP target (%) 
			 Lowland dry acid grassland 276 >100 
			 Native woodland 53,000 95 
			 Lowland wood-pasture and parkland 120 >100 
			 Lowland calcareous grassland 8,426 44 
			 Lowland heathland 7,600 >100 
			 Purple moor grass and rush pastures 151 >100 
			 Wet reedbeds 1,715 >100 
			 Coastal and floodplain grazing marsh 1,250 >100 
			 Saline lagoons 100 >100 
			 Lowland meadows 256 >100 
			 Upland hay meadows 72 >100 
		
	
	The ALSF has also supported the Natural After Minerals Project to develop a strategic partnership between Natural England, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and minerals companies to help take advantage of this opportunity. The ALSF evaluation identified six projects in the period between 2008 and 2011 that have contributed to BAP targets as shown in the following table:
	
		
			  ALSF project  ALSF funding 2008-11 (£)  Wider project (if relevant)  Beneficiary habitats/species  Activities undertaken 
			 Creating Priority Ponds on Aggregate Sites 80,615 Million Ponds Project Ponds, supporting up to 82 BAP species Promote and support Priority Pond creation on aggregate sites through a dedicated Pond Officer for the mineral industry, enabling aggregate extraction sites to make a significantly greater contribution to national and local BAP targets for freshwater species and habitats. 
			 Crayfish Arks for the Peak District and Derbyshire 23,231 n/a White Clawed Crayfish LBAP and UK BAP targets Outputs will include detailed reports on methodologies, practicalities and outcomes of Ark site selection, preparation and implementation, to be disseminated on a national basis. 
			 Whin Grassland, Northumberland 128,300 n/a Whin grassland Establish Whin grassland as distinct classification within Northumberland LBAP; develop best practice guide for Whin grassland; practical site works to conserve and restore habitat; improve understanding of Whin grassland. 
			 Ouse Fen, Cambridgeshire 56,680 Hanson-RSPB Wetland project Reedbed (by 2030; 40% of 2010 target for reedbed creation in UK), floodplain grazing marsh; skylark, brown hare, linnet, yellowhammer Contribution to habitat restoration; contribution to establishment of appropriate habitat management. 
			 Lackford Lakes Farmland BAP project, Suffolk 56,362 Lackford Lakes nature reserve Tree sparrow, other farmland BAP birds, common lizard, grass snake Habitat creation to address critical factors thought to be limiting tree sparrow success with the aim of attracting them to Lackford Lakes nature reserve. 
			 Langford Lowflelds, Newark (1)40,600 n/a Reedbed (nearly 3% of UK target, 10% of regional target, 33% of county target); bitterns (2% of UK target) Restore Tarmac site to nature conservation area in partnership with the RSPB. 
			 (1) This was 2007-08.

Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent through the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund in each English region in the latest year for which figures are available.

Richard Benyon: holding answer 31 January 2011
	Since its inception in 2002, delivery partners for the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) have been required to report data on projects to DEFRA, including in which region those projects have taken place. Some projects do not take place in a single region because they are either nationally relevant (e.g. research and development projects), trans-regional or marine projects. The following table accounts for the £96 million invested in projects taking place in a single region.
	
		
			  ALSF projects by English region 
			  Region  £ million  Percentage 
			 East midlands 15 16 
			 East of England 11 12 
			 North-east 5 5 
			 North-west 8 9 
			 South-east 20 21 
			 South-west 18 19 
			 West midlands 9 9 
			 Yorkshire and Humberside 9 10 
			 Total 96 100

Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much was spent through the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund in each financial year since 2001-02; and what her forecast is of expenditure in  (a) 2010-11 and  (b) 2011-12.

Richard Benyon: holding answer 31 January 2011
	The following table shows the total allocation and spend since the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund's (ALSF) inception in 2002.
	
		
			   Total expenditure (£million) 
			 2002-03 17.9 
			 2003-04 19.2 
			 2004-05 19.5 
			 2005-06 25.4 
			 2006-07 19.6 
			 2007-08 19.7 
			 2008-09 24.0 
			 2009-10 23.80 
			 2010-11 16.1 
			 2011-12 - 
		
	
	The decision made from the last comprehensive spending review was to discontinue the ALSF at the end of the current financial year. The forecast for the end of 2010-11 is £16.1 million; after the end of this year the programme will have ended so no forecast is available for 2011-12. However, DEFRA will be making up to £225,000 available for a small project next year-the purpose of which is to ensure findings from £60 million already invested in ALSF Research and Development are collated and made accessible for all through a professional website tool which will be ran and maintained by the Mineral Industry Research Organisation.

Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: holding answer 31 January 2011
	An independent evaluation of the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) programme of work for the years 2008-11 was recently carried out by the in-house policy resource unit. Overall, the evaluation was positive in that the programme delivered against its objectives and did provide value for money. The evaluation can be viewed on the DEFRA ALSF web pages at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/land/aggregates/
	However, during the spending review, and against other departmental priorities, DEFRA concluded that the ASLF did not represent a core activity for the Department, and, therefore, funding could not continue beyond the current financial year. This decision should not detract from the excellent work that has been undertaken by delivery partners, and for which the Department is very grateful.

Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what consultations her Department has conducted on the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund in the last 12 months.

Richard Benyon: holding answer 31 January 2011
	No specific consultations were undertaken on the decision to discontinue the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF) which was taken in the light of broader departmental spending priorities as part of the spending review. However, an independent evaluation of the ALSF programme of work for the years 2008-11 was recently carried out by the In House Policy Resource unit, and the results are available on the ALSF pages on the DEFRA website at:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/quality/land/aggregates/
	All the relevant delivery partners, industry and professional bodies were consulted through the process of drawing this evaluation together.

Air Pollution: Legal Costs

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate the cost to the public purse of litigation and fines in respect of the UK's air quality exceedances of  (a) particulate matter and (b) nitrogen dioxide.

Richard Benyon: The UK seeks to comply with EU law and the Government made a commitment in the coalition agreement to work towards EU air quality standards. We are making great efforts to ensure that we do so.
	The Commission is able to request the European Court to impose a daily fine, a lump sum fine, or both. As a guide to the levels which have been set by the Commission, a daily fine is calculated by multiplying a uniform flat rate (currently €640) by coefficients for seriousness and duration, and then multiplying this figure by a special factor for each member state, which for the UK has been set at 18.31. The minimum lump sum fine (for the UK) is set at €9.666 million.
	Current European Commission guidance (Commission Communication SEC (2005) 1658 as updated by Commission Communication SEC(2010) 923/3) sets out three criteria which are taken into account when calculating the level of fines. These are: the seriousness of the breach (which affects the lump sum only and can be a multiple of between 1 and 20), the duration of the breach (a multiple of between 1 and 3) and a deterrent factor designed to ensure the breach is rectified and the offence is not repeated. Each case is treated on its own merits, so it is extremely difficult to estimate the level of any fine.
	Any litigation costs would depend on how far the case goes, and the scope of the issues involved. It is very difficult to estimate these in advance.

Animals: Advertising

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will bring forward proposals to regulate advertisements for the sale of pets  (a) on the internet and  (b) in newspapers; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: There are no proposals to regulate advertising the sale of pets on the internet or in newspapers specifically. To regulate and police internet adverts would, even if it were feasible, require a considerable investment of resources. I am not satisfied that the net welfare benefits could justify Government giving further consideration to intervention in this area. With regard to newspaper adverts, welfare organisations have worked constructively with the newspaper industry to encourage self-policing and to raise customer awareness of what they should do when responding to small adverts. I am very grateful to those newspapers that have now decided to take positive steps to promote animal welfare and protect the interests of their readers. I do not consider that further action by Government is either feasible or necessary.

Animals: Licensing

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the effectiveness of arrangements for licensing animal dealers; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The Pet Animals Act 1951 (as amended in 1983) controls the sale of all animals as pets from licensed premises. The 1951 Act requires any person selling pet animals to be licensed by the local authority. Before granting a licence, the authority must satisfy itself that the animals are kept in accommodation that is suitable and clean, that they are supplied with the appropriate food and drink, and are protected from disease and fire.
	The maximum penalty under the 1951 Act is a fine of £500 and/or three months' imprisonment. If a person is convicted under the Act or for any offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006, a court may cancel any pet shop licence or disqualify a person from keeping a pet shop for any period as the court thinks fit. The Animal Welfare Act 2006 is the principal piece of legislation protecting all domestic and captive animals, in England and Wales. Under the 2006 Act, it is an offence to cause any unnecessary suffering to-or fail to provide for the welfare needs of-any domestic or captive animal.
	I am satisfied that the legislation currently in place relating to the selling of pet animals provides local authorities with the necessary powers to ensure that the welfare of animals is maintained.

Bees: Public Expenditure

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications of the outcome of the comprehensive spending review on the number of bee inspectors; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: DEFRA has not yet finalised the funding allocations to individual programmes. It is not therefore possible at this time to confirm the implications of the comprehensive spending review on the Food and Environment Research Agency's National Bee Unit's bee inspectorate.

Biodiversity

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the current status is of the UK target to halt biodiversity loss by 2010.

Richard Benyon: The target to halt biodiversity loss by 2010 was an EU-wide one. The Commission reported in October last year that the EU had missed it. The UK provided details to the Commission on progress towards the target in early 2010. This showed that the decline in biodiversity had slowed and in some cases had been halted or reversed but that there remained a lot more to do. The EU has agreed a successor target to halt biodiversity loss and the degradation of ecosystem services by 2020. A strategy to deliver this new target is currently in preparation.

Departmental Marketing

Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost to the public purse was of the manufacture and distribution of Department-branded drinks coasters in the last financial year for which figures are available.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA has not produced drinks coasters in either this or the previous financial year. There are no records available which indicate that coasters were produced prior to this.

Departmental Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what single tender contracts her Department has awarded since her appointment; and what the monetary value is of each contract above the EU public procurement threshold.

Richard Benyon: From information held centrally by the core Department and its executive agencies, the following information is available on single tender contracts.
	 Core D EFRA
	(a) Single Tender contracts awarded since 12 May 2010-24, with a total value of £1,732,863.46, average contract value £66,648.59.
	(b) Of these, nine contracts have expired/completed.
	(c) Of the remaining 15 contracts, two complete before the end of this fiscal year.
	(d) There is one Single Tender contract above the OJEU threshold in the period of £770,000 which is for follow up work to complete an assignment previously awarded on a competitive tendering exercise under the EU procurement aggregation rules.
	 Rural Payments Agency
	(a) The Rural Payments Agency has awarded three single tenders since 12 May 2010 with a total value of £3,113,841, as follows:
	£2,115,000-Map Digitising
	£994,000-e-channel Extension
	£4,841-LEAN Training (method for business improvement that focuses on the reduction of variation in all work processes)
	(b) Two of the contracts, Map Digitizing and e-channel extension, were above the Official Journal European Union threshold.
	 Veterinary Medicines Directorate
	(a) Single Tender contract Awarded since 12 May 2010-eight, with a total value of £82,805, average contract value £10,351.
	(b) Of these, two contracts have expired/completed.
	(c) Of the remaining six contracts, one completes before the end of this fiscal year.
	(d) There are no Single Tender contract above the OJEU threshold in the period.
	 Food and Environment Research Agency
	(a) Fera is a science-based organisation. We do not collate specific information about Single Tender contracts, concentrating on those areas where we do operate competitive tenders. We seek competitive pricing for all purchases in excess of £5,000 for goods and £20,000 for services where the product/service is provided by more than one supplier.
	(b) There have been no Single Tender Actions above the OJEU threshold for Fera during this period.
	 Animal Health Agency
	 Veterinary Laboratories Agency
	There have been no Single Tender contracts for these two organisations.

Dogs

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will bring forward proposals to require that all puppies offered for sale  (a) are examined by a veterinary surgeon and  (b) are subject to a health certificate before the sale of the animal; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The independent Dog Advisory Council is currently looking at health problems in dogs. This covers health checks and advice given to purchasers by vendors. I will consider this matter in the light of the recommendations made by the Council.

Dogs: Animal Breeding

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under what legislation the  (a) breeding and  (b) sale of puppies is regulated; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The Breeding and Sale of Dogs (Welfare) Act 1999, which amended and extended the provisions of the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973 and the Breeding of Dogs Act 1991, provides protection for dogs used in breeding establishments. Under this legislation, any person who keeps a breeding establishment for dogs at any premises and carries on a business of breeding dogs for sale at those premises must obtain a licence from the local authority. Those people who are not in the business of breeding dogs for sale and produce less than five litters in any period of 12 months-so called "hobby breeders"-do not need to obtain a licence. Local authorities have powers to grant or withhold a licence as well as to inspect a pet shop for standards of welfare.
	The sale of dogs may also be regulated under the Pet Animals Act 1951 which regulates anyone who is in the business of selling pet animals. Similar powers for local authorities are provided here as under the dog breeding legislation.
	In addition to the specific law on the breeding and selling of dogs, there is also the Animal Welfare Act 2006, which places a duty on those who own or are responsible for animals to ensure their animals' welfare. This includes owners and keepers of dog breeding establishments. Failure to provide for the welfare of an animal could lead to a fine of up £5,000 and/or six months imprisonment.

Dogs: Animal Breeding

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will bring forward proposals to reduce the levels of commercial breeding of puppies; what recent representations she has received on this issue; what response she gave; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: Possible measures to improve the breeding and health of dogs will be considered by the independent Dog Advisory Council. I will consider any need for Government action to combat indiscriminate breeding in the light of the recommendations of the Council.
	From time to time, DEFRA receives correspondence relating to the welfare of dogs at breeding establishments and whether we are proposing to make any changes to the existing controls. I consider that the existing controls provide adequate protection for the welfare of dogs and enable local authorities to take appropriate action, if necessary.

Dogs: Animal Breeding

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance her Department issues to local authorities on the enforcement of legislation relating to the  (a) breeding and  (b) sale of puppies; what amendments her Department has made to it in each year since 2005; if she will place in the Library a copy of the guidance; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: Guidance for local authorities on the legislation relating to the breeding and sale of dogs was provided by central Government in 1999 when the legislation was last amended. The guidance has not been subsequently amended. I will arrange for a copy of the guidance to be placed in the Library of the House.

Dogs: Tagging

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to bring forward proposals for compulsory microchipping of dogs.

James Paice: The Government support voluntary identification of pets by microchipping because it increases the chances of lost or stolen dogs being reunited with their owners. A proposal for all dogs to be compulsorily microchipped was included in DEFRA's consultation on dangerous dog legislation. DEFRA received 1,875 responses on this issue, of which 84% were in favour and 16% opposed. We are currently considering the possibility of introducing compulsory microchipping as well as a range of other issues raised in the consultation. No final decisions have been made.
	The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, my noble Friend Lord Henley, is due to announce the Government's approach to dangerous dogs in the near future.

Dogs: Tagging

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will bring forward proposals to require the micro-chipping of all puppies for sale before they leave their mothers; what recent representations she has received on this issue; what response she gave; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The Government supports voluntary identification of pets by microchipping because it increases the chances of lost or stolen dogs being re-united with their owners. A public consultation on the law on dangerous dogs, which concluded on 1 June 2010, included a proposal that all dogs be microchipped. As a result, numerous letters were received on this subject by DEFRA. We have analysed the 4,250 or so replies to the consultation and a summary of the responses was published on 25 November 2010. A decision about the way forward, including regarding the microchipping of dogs, will be made shortly.

Fisheries: Sharks

Henry Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on prohibition of sale of shark fin products.

Richard Benyon: The UK is committed to the sustainable management, conservation of sharks, and to bringing to an end the wasteful practice known as shark finning, where shark fins are removed at sea, and the rest of the carcass discarded.
	The UK has not adopted a policy of banning the sale of shark fin products. We consider that the most effective means of protecting these species is through working at an EU and international level to better manage fisheries, while where appropriate seeking to ban the international trade in shark products through the Convention on international trade in endangered species (CITIES).
	The UK has already taken the strong and proactive decision to ban UK vessels from removing fins from sharks at sea. All UK vessels now have to land sharks with fins naturally attached-a measure that will prevent shark finning. We want this to be the case for all vessels, and so are pushing strongly for EU legislation to be changed, and for international agreement on this issue.
	We are also leading the way on shark management in both in Europe, and international fisheries management bodies, by calling for appropriate limits to be set on the numbers of sharks that can be caught, and for total bans on catching endangered species.

Fishing Catches

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department plans to begin collecting data on the number of fish discarded by fishermen as a result of compliance with fishing quotas.

Richard Benyon: UK fisheries laboratories have been sending scientific observers to sea to record the quantity of fish discarded by fishing vessels since 1975. The data collected during these sampling trips are used to estimate the total quantities of fish discarded. It is then possible to analyse the data further to estimate how much of these discards occur for specific reasons, for example, the amount of fish discarded to comply with quota limits, or for market reasons or because they were undersized.

Forestry Commission

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she has had with the Forestry Commission on the potential sale of woodlands.

James Paice: The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial Government Department that reports in England to the DEFRA Secretary of State. The Forestry Commission has been closely involved in discussions on the new approach to ownership and management of woodlands and forests.

Forestry Commission: Land

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 26 January 2011,  Official Report, column 293W, on forests, for what reason the 2,700 campaign emails sent via Forest.org were not added to the figure of 800 representations received by her Department on the sale of the public forest estate.

James Paice: As the hon. Member's previous question asked for the categories that we use to record representations, the answer separated the correspondence received on forestry into different types. This was the reason that the campaign emails from Forest.org were listed separately.

Fracking

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the environmental consequences of fracking.

Richard Benyon: The impact of hydraulic fracturing on the water environment in England and Wales would be assessed on a site specific basis by the Environment Agency. This would happen via its role as a statutory consultee in the planning process, or as part of its consideration of the need for, and response to, an application for an environmental permit (under the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010). The Environment Agency has its own in-house technical expertise which is used to support its role in protecting and managing water quality and resources. This expertise is available to the Government.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to announce her proposals for more widespread and consistent reporting of greenhouse gas emissions.

James Paice: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford West and Abingdon (Nicola Blackwood) on 7 December 2010,  Official Report, column 143W.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Business

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she plans to introduce regulations requiring companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions.

James Paice: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford West and Abingdon (Nicola Blackwood) on 7 December 2010,  Official Report, column 143W.

Litter

Joan Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research her Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the disamenity of litter; and whether she plans to commission further research into the matter.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA has commissioned work on the public's economic valuation of litter, as part of a research project covering a range of local environment quality factors. The work is expected to conclude this spring.

Natural Gas

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions has she had with the shale gas drilling industry on disclosure of chemicals used in drilling activities.

Richard Benyon: There is currently one company drilling for shale gas in England and Wales, Cuadrilla Resources, which is operating near Blackpool, Lancashire. It has not yet discharged any chemicals into the ground as it has not started hydraulic fracturing. The Environment Agency has held discussions with the company about its operations. As part of these discussions the company has voluntarily disclosed the names of the chemicals it is intending to use as part of hydraulic fracturing.

Pets: Animal Welfare

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent estimate she has made of the number of  (a) cats of each breed,  (b) dogs of each breed and  (c) other pets of each species abandoned by their owners in each local authority in the latest period for which figures are available; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: There are no figures held centrally on the numbers of cats and dogs abandoned each year. However, under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, local authorities are required to keep such records in respect of dogs.

Pyrethroids

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will take steps to ban the use of pyrethroids by local authorities.

James Paice: There are no plans to ban the use of pyrethroids by local authorities. Pyrethroid insecticides are strictly regulated under UK and EU legislation to ensure that they can be used without causing harm to people or to the wider environment. Products have to be assessed and authorised before they are marketed, and it is a legal requirement that all users, including those in local authorities, follow the label instructions which allow the products to be used safely.

Redundancies

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has spent on redundancy since May 2010.

Richard Benyon: The Department has spent £248,483 on redundancy since May 2010.

Rivers: Pollution

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent representations the Environment Agency has made to landowners on mineral pollution in the river system in the North of England.

Richard Benyon: Water quality in our river systems has been steadily improving for many years. However, there is still work to be done: to tackle pollution from a variety of sources, for example, contaminated land, agriculture and industry, and to meet our obligations under the water framework directive. It is often essential to work with landowners, in order to raise their awareness and enable better management of the land.
	The Environment Agency is currently involved in a number of projects affecting rivers in the North East of England. These include: working with the Coal Authority at a number of locations to address the impact of minewater pollution; working with farmers and landowners on initiatives to reduce pollution from sediment entering rivers; and working with developers and landowners to ensure they understand, and are able to prevent, contamination of rivers resulting from regeneration projects.

Trees

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department has made  (a) an estimate of the number of damson trees and  (b) an assessment of the areas of highest density of such trees.

James Paice: We have made no estimate of the number of damson trees in England, and nor is there any current numerical data on the areas of greatest density.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Trade Unions: Iraq

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Iraqi counterpart on the role of trades unions in Iraq.

Alistair Burt: Our ambassador in Baghdad discussed concerns over the treatment of unions in the Ministry of Electricity with the Electricity Minister in August 2010. The right to form and join trade unions in Iraq is embodied in the Iraqi constitution, a principle to which this Government attaches great importance. Embassy officials maintain a regular dialogue with Iraqi union representatives.

Commonwealth: UK Role

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for the future role of the UK in the Commonwealth.

William Hague: I remain committed to strengthening the UK's relationship with the Commonwealth and ensuring that we are at the centre of plans to reinvigorate this unique organisation for the benefit of all its current and future members. This ready-made network can further UK foreign policy and economic interests.

Detention: Israel

Ann Clwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Israeli counterpart on detention.

Alistair Burt: Our embassy in Tel Aviv raises concerns over the military court system, including administrative detention, on a regular basis at official level. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), met with Palestinian human rights defenders during his visit to Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories in November 2010. Officials regularly attend court hearings for human rights defenders.

Sudan

Paul Goggins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Sudan; and if he will make a statement.

Duncan Hames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the political situation in Sudan; and if he will make a statement.

Robert Halfon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the outcome of the referendum in southern Sudan.

Henry Bellingham: The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), issued a written ministerial statement on 24 January 2011,  Official Report, columns 1-2WS. The southern Sudan referendum is a momentous step towards the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). We welcome the positive reactions of the north and of observers as we await the formal results. We will support north and south as they work on the remaining CPA issues. We continue to support efforts to establish a lasting peace for Darfur.

Gilad Shalit

Eric Joyce: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had on securing the release of Gilad Shalit.

Alistair Burt: It is despicable that, four years on, Gilad Shalit should still be held by Hamas in denial of the most basic of human rights. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met with the Shalit family during his recent visit to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories and reiterated his call for the immediate release of their son.

Hazara Population: Pakistan

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the condition of the Hazara population in Pakistan; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: The Hazara community in Pakistan numbers approximately 500,000. In the past they have reported discrimination because of their ethnicity. Officials from our high commission have met with representatives of the community. I raised the importance of upholding the rights of all citizens with the Minister for Minorities on 10 January.

Australia and New Zealand

Jane Ellison: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the outcomes were of his recent visit to Australia and New Zealand; and if he will make a statement.

William Hague: My visit, the first by a Foreign Secretary for 17 years, reaffirmed Britain's close relationships with Australia and New Zealand. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and I agreed with our counterparts new areas of closer co-ordination across foreign policy, security and defence issues. Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd took me to his constituency to see the devastation caused by the flooding, and I offered to contribute UK expertise in flood recovery and forecasting, which Australia has accepted.

Iran: Capital Punishment

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has had with his Iranian counterpart on the use of death by stoning as a punishment in Iran.

Alistair Burt: I raised this topic in discussions with the Iranian embassy in London a number of times in 2010, most recently in November when I spoke to the Iranian chargé d'affaires. Our embassy in Tehran also discussed this with the Iranian authorities in December last year. We believe that stoning is a barbaric punishment which has no place in modern society. We continue to urge the Iranian authorities, and all other countries that use stoning as a punishment, to abolish this violent practice forever.

Iraq: Iran

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Iraq on measures to protect civilians living in Camp Ashraf.

Alistair Burt: The UK has discussed the situation at Camp Ashraf with the Iraqi Prime Minister, the Iraqi Foreign Minister, and the previous Iraqi Human Rights Minister and Iraqi Minister of Internal Affairs. Officials at our embassy in Baghdad also continue to discuss the situation with the EU, US and UN, most recently on 14 January 2011.
	The UK has and will continue to emphasise to the Iraqi authorities the need to treat the residents of Camp Ashraf in a way that meets international humanitarian standards.

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he intends to answer the letter sent to him by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 21 December 2010, with regard to Mr P Walsh.

David Lidington: The letter of 21 December 2010 from the right hon. Member has been transferred to the Department for Work and Pensions to answer.

Personnel

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff of each socio-economic group work in  (a) his Department and  (b) the Diplomatic Service.

Alistair Burt: We do not hold this information.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) aims to recruit a talented and diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve and our recruitment policies are designed to encourage applications from the widest possible range of backgrounds. All external recruitment into the FCO is based on merit, and all campaigns must be fair and open.
	The FCO also runs and takes part in diversity-related internship schemes. Their main aim is to help ensure that the most talented people from diverse backgrounds, which are currently under-represented in the FCO workforce, are aware of and attracted to a career in the FCO.
	The Cabinet Office will publish data on the socio-economic background of entrants to the senior civil service and the civil service fast stream. This will include fast stream applicants who go on to join the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Personnel: Education

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of his Department's senior management staff were educated at  (a) Oxford university,  (b) Cambridge university and  (c) public schools in each of the last four years for which figures are available.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office does not hold data centrally on the educational background of senior management staff. The information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office's recruitment policies are designed to encourage applications from the widest possible range of backgrounds. All external recruitment into the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is based on merit, and all campaigns must be fair and open. In addition, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's internal promotion and progression schemes are firmly meritocratic, based on objective and consistent criteria against which all candidates are assessed.

Personnel: Education

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proportion of his Department's  (a) policy and  (b) operational staff entrants were educated at (i) Oxford university, (ii) Cambridge university and (iii) public schools in each of the last four years for which figures are available.

Alistair Burt: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) only holds data centrally on the universities (but not schools) attended by staff who have come in via the Cabinet Office's Fast Stream scheme. The proportions of these who attended Oxford and Cambridge are as follows.
	
		
			   Percentage Oxford  Percentage Cambridge 
			 2007 25 17 
			 2008 24 10 
			 2009 21 21 
			 2010 31 6 
		
	
	The FCO does not hold data centrally on the educational background of other new entrants. This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Sexuality

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to his counterparts in countries where persecution of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people is enshrined in law.

Jeremy Browne: The Government are committed to combating violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people as an integral part of its international human rights work. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Ministers and officials regularly raise human rights issues, including the situation of LGBT people, during meetings with international counterparts. Earlier this month I visited Jamaica, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago, and raised LGBT equality during discussions with government officials and non-government organisations.
	The UK will continue to play a leading global role in ending inequality and discrimination against LGBT people. In July 2010, the Government published "Working for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Equality" to guide the UK's future work in promoting LGBT rights. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office contributed to the international section of the strategy which includes a commitment to pushing for unequivocal support for LGBT rights internationally.

Uganda: Elections

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the likely effectiveness of the dispute resolution mechanisms proposed for the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in Uganda.

Henry Bellingham: I have made the point to members of both the governing and Opposition parties, including President Museveni and the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament, that it is crucial for both sides to engage constructively in the election process if it is to be deemed credible.
	Ugandan electoral law contains provisions for appeals on the results to be lodged with the Supreme Court within 10 days of election results being announced. The court then has a further 30 days to declare its findings. This process was followed effectively in 2001 and 2006.
	Earlier in the process we lobbied for the adoption of a Code of Conduct Bill which would have enabled the Electoral Commission to convene electoral liaison and peace committees across the country to resolve disputes. However the Bill was not adopted. The UK, and other donors, have funded the Electoral Commission to introduce alternative mechanisms to resolve inter-party disputes (for example, the Inter-Party Dialogue (IPOD)) and a new system for handling complaints.

Uganda: Elections

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on measures to ensure freedom of speech and freedom of the media in Uganda in advance of the forthcoming elections in that country.

Henry Bellingham: Uganda has a lively media, and their coverage inspires active public debate on current issues and criticism of government policies. But we are concerned about administrative and legal curbs on freedom of expression. We are aware of reports that some Opposition candidates have faced difficulty in accessing local media in some areas, although this is difficult to monitor in practice.
	The UK has supported, via the Deepening Democracy Programme, projects to support a free media to promote accountability (including providing assistance to radio networks, media training and promotion of accurate messaging). We have also discussed the draft Press and Journalist Bill with the Ugandan Minister for Information and National Guidance. We have urged that any new regulation strikes an appropriate and legitimate balance between regulation and protection of the rights to freedom of expression and assembly.

EDUCATION

Academies

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many academies are currently operating on split sites.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 10 January 2011
	Although this information is not collected by the Department and academies are not required to supply it, from information held by the Young People's Learning Agency we understand there are 38 academies that currently operate on split sites.

Departmental Temporary Employment

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what the  (a) total and  (b) average annual salary of staff employed on fixed-term contracts in his Department was in the latest period for which figures are available.

Tim Loughton: holding answer 20 January 2011
	The latest information for the Department is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  £ 
			  Grade band  Sum of annual salary  Average of annual salary 
			 Executive assistant 462,464.00 17,787.08 
			 Executive officer 43,832.00 21,916.00 
			 Higher executive officer 1,326,249.41 27,630.20 
			 Senior executive officer 438,837.30 36,569.78 
			 Grade 7 270,257.50 54,051.50 
			 Grade 6 112,399.00 56,199.50 
			 Total 2,654,039.21 27,937.25

Education Maintenance Allowance

Teresa Pearce: To ask the Secretary of State for Education pursuant to the answer of 10 January 2011,  Official Report, column 80W, on the education maintenance allowance, how many  (a) current students and  (b) students who were surveyed as part of the National Foundation for Education Research study into education maintenance allowance were from (i) white, (ii) mixed, (iii) Indian, (iv) Pakistani, (v) Bangladeshi, (vi) other Asian, (vii) Black African, (viii) Black Caribbean and (ix) other ethnic background.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 17 January 2011
	The research undertaken by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), working in partnership with Triangle and QA Research, looked at barriers to participation in post compulsory education including financial barriers.
	The research included a sample of 2,029 young people, who were chosen to be representative of young people aged 16 and 17 in terms of their gender and attainment, of incidence of learning difficulty or disability and destination in the September after leaving Year 11. This was supplemented by a combination of telephone and face-to-face interviews with young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities, parents of young people with LDD, young people in a job without training aged 16 or 17, young people who were not in education, employment or training aged 16 or 17 and teenage parents aged 16-18.
	The following table shows the ethnicity of respondents.
	
		
			  Table A2: Ethnicity of survey respondents ethnicity 
			   Percentage 
			 Asian 4 
			 Black 2 
			 Mixed 2 
			 Other 1 
			 White 91 
			 Prefer not to say <1 
			 N=2,029

Education Maintenance Allowance

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many students in receipt of education maintenance allowance in  (a) Sunderland,  (b) the North East and  (c) England have gone on to higher education in each year since its introduction.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 17 January 2011
	Neither the YPLA nor the Department for Education currently collects information on how many students in receipt of education maintenance allowance have gone on to higher education.

Education: Assessments

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what estimate he made of the average cost  (a) per sixth form college and maintained secondary school with a sixth form,  (b) per student in a sixth form college or in the sixth form at a maintained secondary school and  (c) to the maintained secondary sector of public examinations in (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 2009-10;
	(2)  what estimate he made of the average cost to maintained schools and sixth form colleges of a public examination entry in school year  (a) 10,  (b) 11,  (c) 12 and  (d) 13 in 2010 prices in academic year (i) 1996-97 and (ii) 2009-10.

Nick Gibb: The best information the Department holds in relation to examination fees in the secondary sector comes through the section 251 of the Apprenticeship, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 (ASCL) outturn data for local authorities. The response I gave my hon. Friend on 10 January 2011,  Official Report, column 83W, provides this information for 2002-03 and 2008-09. Further to that answer, the outturn data for 2009-10 has now been published and is available on the Department's website at the following web address:
	http://www.education.gov.uk/childrenandyoungpeople/strategy/financeandfunding/section251/b0071584/s251-workbooks-outturn-2009-10
	The 2009-10 figures for public examination spend by maintained secondary schools is set out as follows:
	
		
			   2009-10 (£) 
			 Spent by maintained secondary schools 302,635,000 
			 Per school 95,780 
			 Per pupil 98 
		
	
	This information is available because data is collected on how schools spend their funding. However, owing to the way in which the information in relation to school examination costs is collected, it is not certain whether all school sixth form examination costs (school years 12/13) are included in these figures. For the same reason, it is also not possible to split out the school sixth form examination costs from those for pre-16 (school years 10/11).
	Similar information for the further education (FE) sector was collected by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) up to the 2006-07 financial year, but has not been collected since and is no longer collected.
	Data supplied by the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) shows that public examinations cost sixth form colleges (SFCs) a total of £25,810,000 in 2006-07, inclusive of any adult examination costs. This means an average cost of £266,082 per SFC and £177 per SFC student (all ages). It is not possible to provide comparable SFC examination cost data for the years preceding 2006-07 because the earlier records are substantially incomplete.
	It is also not possible to split out the costs for the school years requested in parliamentary question 027599 from the figures provided above, which also include any adult examination costs. I am therefore unable to provide any detail as to how much SFCs have spent historically on examination fees for school years 10 to 13.
	Notes:
	1. The financial information used in the answer to this PQ is taken from the Department's former section 52 data collection. Section 251 of the Apprenticeship, Skills, Children and Learning Act 2009 now replaces section 52 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998 in England.
	2. Examination Fees includes the costs of test and examination entry fees, and any accreditation costs related to pupils (including GCSEs, A/AS levels, GNVQs); administrative costs, e.g. external marking.
	3. Pupil numbers used in the calculations include all FTE pupils attending maintained secondary or middle-deemed secondary schools in England in the financial years given.
	4. The headcount pupil numbers used are from the 2002, 2003, 2009 and 2010 January School Census (with a 1/3-2/3 weighting applied to give financial year figures).
	5. Cash terms figures as reported by local authorities as at 17 January 2011.

Free Schools: Special Educational Needs

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  whether he has made an estimate of the number of free schools which are likely to be established to provide exclusively for children with special educational needs in the next five years;
	(2)  whether he plans to apply additional criteria to groups applying to open a free school providing exclusively for children with special educational needs;
	(3)  what relationship he plans to establish between local authorities and free schools providing exclusively for children with special educational needs.

Nick Gibb: We have not made an estimate of the number of free schools which are likely to be established to provide exclusively for children with special educational needs in the next five years. Opening any new school is complex and we are aware that there are additional complexities in establishing special free schools. We are considering these issues and intend to provide additional information to potential applicants. We are also considering whether additional criteria are required to assess applications to establish special free schools.
	The Schools White Paper-'The Importance of Teaching'-has set out our plans for a new school system. Free schools, including those providing for children with special educational needs (special free schools), will enjoy the same freedoms as academies and special academies. We will be publishing our Green Paper on SEN and Disability in February and this will set out the future relationship local authorities will have with special academies and free schools.

Further Education

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he is taking to support education for 16 to 19 year olds in further education colleges in areas where there is no sixth form provision.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 13 January 2011
	Local authorities have a statutory duty to secure sufficient suitable education and training opportunities to meet the reasonable needs of all 16 to 19-year-olds in their area.
	In July 2010, the Secretary of State for Education announced a series of steps to simplify the funding system for 16 to 19-year-olds, including giving local authorities a key strategic leadership role to champion the interests of young people in their area. They may shape provision in their area by identifying gaps, enabling new provision and developing the market.
	The needs of young people are much more likely to be met where local authorities have strong partnerships with those who provide education and training. There is no prescription about how this should be done but, in developing their overview, local authorities will want to work with their key partners, including schools, colleges and other providers, to identify the education needs of young people in their area, the needs of employers and the extent to which those demands and needs are being met overall.
	From 2011/12 core 16 to 19 allocation budgets for school sixth forms and colleges will be based on the equivalent of lagged pupil numbers thus ensuring that funding more explicitly follows the young person. We are also devolving responsibility to institutions to decide on their curriculum offer and mix of provision so that they can respond to the needs of individual students.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to support localism and decentralisation in respect of the role of parents in determining the sex and relationships curriculum in primary schools; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 18 January 2011
	All primary schools have the flexibility to determine their own approach to sex and relationships education (SRE)-including whether to provide SRE-so that they can take account of the views of parents, the needs of the local community and the ethos of the school. Governing bodies of both primary and secondary schools have a statutory responsibility to ensure that they have a sex education policy in place and this must be available to parents on request.
	It is important, therefore, that schools consult parents about the content of their SRE programmes and give them the opportunity to comment on content and the manner in which that content will be presented. Schools may decide to amend their SRE programmes if a majority of parents disagree with the content. Parents have the right to withdraw their children from SRE lessons.
	In the Schools White Paper, The Importance of Teaching, published on 24 November, we announced our intention to conduct an independent review to determine how we can support schools to improve the quality of all PSHE teaching, including SRE, and retain the flexibility of teachers to use their judgment about how best to deliver PSHE education.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what steps he plans to take to increase parental involvement in planning the Personal Social and Health Education curriculum; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 18 January 2011
	It is our intention to ensure that all schools can deliver PSHE education in a way that meets their pupils' needs, and is informed by the views of parents. The Schools White Paper, The Importance of Teaching, announced our intention to hold an internal review of PSHE to determine how we can support schools to improve the quality of all PSHE teaching, including giving teachers the flexibility to use their judgment about how best to deliver PSHE education in different contexts.

School Meals: Finance

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what plans he has for the funding of school lunches following the end of the School Lunch Grant in 2011.

Sarah Teather: The funding for the School Lunch Grant is part of the schools' baseline funding announced in the spending review, because the Government are committed to healthy school meals. The funding will not be ring-fenced and it will be for schools and local authorities to decide how to spend the money in line with their own needs and priorities including the delivery of statutory nutritional standards.

Secondary Education: Finance

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Education if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's list of independent providers who receive funding from his Department for providing 16 to 19 education and training.

Nick Gibb: I have placed in the Library a copy of the independent providers for 2010-11 who receive departmental funding for 16 to 19 education and training through the Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA). The list does not include providers of 16 to 19 apprenticeships who, while funded by the Department for Education, are contracted and paid by the Skills Funding Agency which is part of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills. The definition we have used for an independent provider is:
	"a business in its own right or a charitable voluntary organisation".

Students: Finance

David Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Education whether he plans to make provision to reimburse students for costs incurred through attendance at further education colleges following the ending of education maintenance allowance.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 10 January 2011
	We are committed to making sure that young people from low income households can continue in education and training post-16. We are considering the replacement for the education maintenance allowance and want to ensure that the funds we have are targeted on those young people who most need support to enable them to participate in education.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Business: Audit

Christopher Pincher: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will standardise the rules of audit for large and small businesses after the transfer of the responsibilities of the Financial Services Authority to the Bank of England.

Edward Davey: The requirements for companies to be audited are contained in Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006, which implements EU law. Companies that qualify as small companies under sections 477 to 480 of the Companies Act are exempt from the requirement to have a statutory audit. The Government are urging the European Commission to bring forward proposals to make audits for some, preferably all, medium-sized, unlisted companies voluntary.

Careers Advice

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to issue guidance to local authorities on the implementation of his proposed all-age careers service.

John Hayes: We will set out more detailed plans for the establishment of an all-age careers service-including to local authorities-shortly. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and the Department for Education are discussing those plans with local authorities, schools, colleges and representative bodies, and a formal advisory group has been established to oversee the implementation of the new service.

Careers Advice: Special Educational Needs

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to ensure that young people with learning difficulties and disabilities in mainstream schools and colleges receive appropriate careers advice under his proposals for an all-age careers service.

John Hayes: Alongside the establishment of an all-age careers service, schools will have responsibility for securing access to independent, impartial careers guidance for all their students, including those young people with learning difficulties and/or disabilities (LDD). Colleges-which generally operate their own careers guidance services-will also work with the all-age service to ensure young people with LDD receive appropriate careers advice.
	Under these arrangements, local authorities will retain their duties to provide young people (and young adults with learning difficulties and/or disabilities up to the age of 25) with targeted support, including their responsibility for carrying out learning difficulty assessments.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what assessment his Department has made of recent medical advances in the treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis; what plans he has for the funding of research in that field over the period of the Comprehensive Spending Review; and if he will make a statement.

David Willetts: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is an independent body which receives its grant in aid from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. The MRC is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. The MRC's budget for the period of the comprehensive spending review has been set such that their resource expenditure can be maintained in real terms.
	The MRC supports research into CFS/ME, and welcomes high-quality investigator-led research applications in this area. In addition to the normal funding mechanism, the MRC has just confirmed a commitment of up to £1.5 million to support research into the causes of CFS/ME. This aims to promote new and innovative partnerships between researchers already working in the CFS/ME field and those in associated areas, such as pain and fatigue. The call will focus on six priority areas which have been identified by the research community and further details will be published by the MRC as they become available. The selection of projects for MRC research funding, submitted through the usual route and to the call, will be determined through peer review.

Consumer Credit: EU Law

Damian Hinds: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what requirements arising from EU regulations govern  (a) the use of annual percentage rates (APR) as the primary cost-of-credit measure for consumer credit products,  (b) the disclosure of APR and/or other cost of credit measures in advertising and communications relating to such products and  (c) the maximum APR allowable in any segment of the consumer credit market.

Edward Davey: The requirements governing the use and disclosure of APR for most types of credit agreement are covered by the following regulations, which came fully into force on 1 February 2011:
	The Consumer Credit (EU Directive) Regulations 2010, SI 2010 No. 1010, which amend the Consumer Credit Act 1974
	The Consumer Credit (Total Charge for Credit) Regulations 2010, SI 2010/1011
	The Consumer Credit (Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2010, SI 2010/1013
	The Consumer Credit (Agreements) Regulations 2010, SI 2010/1014
	The Consumer Credit (Advertisements) Regulations 2010, SI 2010/1970
	The regulations are available on the OPSI website:
	http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2010
	There is no maximum APR specified for any segment of the consumer credit market.

Consumers: Advisory Services

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills if he will assess the merits of co-operating with consumer advice organisations to provide consumer advice in deprived communities.

Edward Davey: This Department is leading work aimed at making the provision of information, advice and education to consumers simpler and more effective. The organisations at the focus of this work are Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland. These are the umbrella organisations for the Citizens Advice Bureaux that have a unique track record in providing advice to citizens, often those who are vulnerable or come from deprived communities. This includes consumer advice. In 2009/10 Citizens Advice helped 2.1 million people with over seven million problems at 3,500 locations in England and Wales.
	This Department is also discussing with the consumer organisation Which? about making wider use of its online information and thereby reducing the costs to the taxpayer of providing such information.

Departmental Communications

Alok Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what measures he has undertaken to reduce jargon and promote plain English in Departmental communications.

Edward Davey: Advice on using plain English is provided on the BIS intranet as part of the guidance on producing publications. Staff are encouraged to use clear, simple language for departmental publications, pages for the BIS website and ministerial correspondence. Communications staff follow the Government Communications Network core skills for Government communicators to write clearly, concisely and accurately in plain English for all formats. This includes press officers writing departmental press releases in plain English.
	In the months before the launch of the new BIS website in March 2010, content to be migrated from the old site was reviewed and updated. As part of this process, BIS produced guidance on writing for the web. This guidance is very clear on the need for plain English and short, simple sentences. In addition, the Digital Team has held a number of writing for the web workshops for policy colleagues.

Departmental Degrees

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills pursuant to the answer of 26 July 2010,  Official Report, column 604W, on departmental degrees, whether he has plans to collect information on the number of officials in his Department who have a qualification in an engineering or science subject.

Edward Davey: We have no plans to collect information on the number of officials with a qualification in a science and engineering subject. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills holds a list of all officials who have identified themselves as part of the science and engineering profession. This ranges from officials in policy roles who have a scientific, engineering or technical background and wish to maintain their analytical skills, to specialists with qualifications and professional experience directly relevant to their current post.

Departmental Marketing

Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what the cost to the public purse was of the manufacture and distribution of department-branded drinks coasters in the last financial year for which figures are available.

Edward Davey: This Department has not produced any branded drinks coasters in the current or the previous financial year.

HIV Infection: Research

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills whether his Department has plans to support UK-based research into new drugs to enhance the treatment of those co-infected with tuberculosis and HIV.

David Willetts: The Medical Research Council (MRC) is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. In keeping with the Haldane principle, prioritisation of an individual research council's spending within its allocation is not a decision for Ministers.
	The MRC funds investigator-led research in response-mode and encourages research proposals from the academic community. The MRC always welcomes high quality applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are judged in open competition with other demands on funding. Awards are made according to their scientific quality and importance to human health. MRC are funding at least three grants currently in this area, and contributing with DFID to a further grant under the European/Developing Country Clinical Trials Process.

Mining: Afghanistan

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps his Department is taking to assist UK mineral mining companies seeking contracts in Afghanistan.

Edward Davey: Through UK Trade and Investment, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has assisted UK companies interested in Afghanistan during the past year by organising an Afghanistan business event and supporting a Department for International Development seminar led by the Afghanistan Minister for Mining. UKTI are working with stakeholders to map a cross Whitehall approach to addressing commercial opportunities in Afghanistan, and plans for a further Afghanistan business event this summer which will include mining as a core focus.

Overseas Trade: Middle East

Richard Harrington: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the monetary value of  (a) exports and  (b) imports including tourism between the UK and (i) Saudi Arabia, (ii) Qatar, (iii) UAE, (iv) Bahrain and (v) Oman in the latest year for which figures are available.

Edward Davey: Overseas trade statistics data for UK trade in goods with the named countries are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  2009 
			  £ million 
			   UK exports of goods  UK imports of goods 
			 Saudi Arabia 2,648 669 
			 Qatar 778 742 
			 UAE 3,556 1,137 
			 Bahrain 241 26 
			 Oman 350 113 
		
	
	Table 9.13 of the UK Balance of Payments Pink Book gives the following figures for UK trade in services (which includes tourism) with the named countries:
	
		
			  2009 
			  £ million 
			   UK exports of services  UK imports of services 
			 Saudi Arabia 2,100 312 
			 Qatar 484 204 
			 UAE 1,779 1,421 
			 Bahrain 299 85 
			 Oman 137 52 
		
	
	Tables 2.10 and 3.10 of 'Travel Trends' give figures for spending in the UK by overseas residents and UK residents' spending abroad. Data are not available for the above countries separately; all are included in the country group 'Other Middle East' (which also includes Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Syria and the Yemen). In 2009, spending in the UK by visitors from 'Other Middle East' was £675 million and spending by UK residents in 'Other Middle East' was £302 million.

Post Office Card Account: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the number of people in Bexleyheath and Crayford constituency who have a Post Office Card Account.

Steve Webb: I have been asked to reply.
	The information is not available in the format requested as data held relate to benefit accounts rather than people. Customers may be in receipt of more than one benefit, pension or allowance which could be paid into one Post Office card account (POca).
	As at May 2010, the number of benefit and pension accounts being paid into a POca in Bexley and Crayford was 3,610.

Regional Development Agencies

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills which areas are covered by local enterprise partnerships.

Edward Davey: Details of local enterprise partnerships that have been approved and the area that they cover can be found on the Department's website at the following address:
	www.bis.gov.uk/policies/regional-economic-development/leps

Royal Mail

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what topics he discussed with Moya Greene, Chief Executive of Royal Mail at their meeting on 21 May 2010.

Edward Davey: I met Moya Greene on 21 May 2010, as part of the appointment process for the chief executive of Royal Mail Group. This was an informal meeting and there was no set agenda, although discussion focused on Moya's experience of public and private sector organisations, and in particular her time at Canada Post.

Royal Mail: Public Appointments

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what process was used to recruit the Chief Executive of Royal Mail on the last occasion the appointment was made.

Edward Davey: The chief executive of Royal Mail is appointed by the board of the company, subject to approval from the Secretary of State. For the most recent appointment we understand that Royal Mail used an executive recruitment specialist who conducted a comprehensive search in the UK and overseas to identify the best talent available. Shortlisted candidates were then interviewed by Royal Mail's nominations committee and the preferred candidate was appointed through that process.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Children: Maintenance

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the status is of cases where child maintenance arrears are owed to a resident parent, but new child maintenance payments are no longer being pursued, under his Department's proposed transition to a new child maintenance system.

Maria Miller: The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission is responsible for the child maintenance system. I have asked the Child Maintenance Commissioner to write to the hon. Member with the information requested and I have seen the response.
	 Letter from Stephen Geraghty:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Child Maintenance Commissioner.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the status is of cases where child maintenance arrears are owed to a resident parent but new child maintenance payments are no longer being pursued under his Department's proposed transition to a new child maintenance system.
	Following the introduction of the new statutory child maintenance scheme, the Commission will continue to pursue non-resident parents for any arrears of maintenance that they may owe. This will include any arrears from the schemes currently in operation.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce its carbon emissions to meet the target of reducing central Government carbon emissions by 10 per cent. by June 2011.

Chris Grayling: The Department for Work and Pensions has been working since May 2010 with its businesses, staff and suppliers to reduce carbon emissions from its offices, adopting a broad range of practical measures. These measures are designed to build on previous successes which have delivered a 23% (53,000 tonnes of CO2) reduction across the entire estate in the last three years.
	In June the Department and its estates partner Telereal Trillium jointly launched the 'AWaRE' (Avoiding Waste and Reducing Energy) campaign, an ongoing engagement plan designed to harness the enthusiasm of staff to deliver real improvements at a local level. This began by recruiting site-based volunteer 'Energy Wardens'-providing them with a range of resources to help them foster and maintain good, energy conscious behaviours with their colleagues, with ongoing support including targeted messages and stories using the Department's intranet. To complement this, automatic meter reading facilities have been installed at 600 DWP sites to provide half-hourly data to assist in identifying and resolving excessive energy usage.
	To incentivise performance, specific energy reduction targets have been set for the Department's businesses. To provide local ownership where issues arise, the Environment brief is being added to the remit of site Health and Safety (or House) Committees.
	A range of 'carbon challenges' were agreed by the Department's executive team in September 2010 for immediate implementation. These included identifying and decommissioning unnecessary electrical equipment, improving alignment of heating and occupancy times, disabling cooling at weekends and also between November and April, and switching off unnecessary external lighting. Following consultation with Estates and IT partners, minimum cooling temperatures in server rooms are being increased to 28°C, significantly reducing the cooling burden during the warmer months.
	The Department's HQ building (Caxton House) took part in, and won, the Greening Government competition to reduce energy consumption in October. Focusing attention on, and active participation by, those running and using the building delivered a saving of 22%. Best practice from this competition is being used to develop specific engagement activities, as part of AWaRE, for other large campus sites.
	In December 2010 a state of the art combined heat and power plant was switched on at Quarry House in Leeds. This is the largest installation of its kind on the civil estate and will save annually at least 428 tonnes of CO2 and £93,000.
	All these measures, together with technical investment in new technology by estates partners, means that the Department is on track to deliver the 10% target. A longer term plan is being prepared with the Carbon Trust, building on the Department's accreditation to the Carbon Trust Standard last year (the largest public sector organisation to hold the Standard).

Disability Living Allowance

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in a residential care and nursing home in  (a) England,  (b) the West Midlands,  (c) Dudley borough and  (d) Dudley North constituency received disability living allowance in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Miller: holding answer 16 December 2010
	Reliable estimates of total disability living allowance claimants in residential care homes are not available as we are unable to identify accurately DLA claimants who meet the full cost of their residential care.

Disability Living Allowance: Hearing and Visual Impairment

Gregg McClymont: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria are used to assess the eligibility of individuals who are  (a) deaf or hard of hearing and  (b) blind or partially sighted for disability living allowance payments.

Maria Miller: Entitlement to disability living allowance is not normally linked to particular disabling conditions, but on the extent to which a severely disabled person has personal care needs and/or walking difficulties as a result of their disability. People with a visual or hearing impairment can claim disability living allowance in the same way as anyone else.
	There are two exceptions to this general rule which specifically affect people with sensory impairments. People who are both deaf and blind are taken to automatically qualify for the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance where they have a 100% per cent disability due to blindness and an 80% disability due to deafness and, by reason of the combined effects of their blindness and deafness, are unable, without the assistance of another person, to walk to any intended or required destination out of doors.
	From April this year we are also extending automatic entitlement to the higher rate mobility component to people with prescribed categories of severe visual impairment. The Pension Disability and Carers Service, which is responsible for the administration of disability living allowance, is in the process of contacting all existing recipients of the benefit who have a visual impairment and are in receipt of the lower rate mobility component to ensure that those eligible can be reassessed for entitlement to the higher rate mobility component. We expect this measure to assist over 22,000 people from its introduction.

Employment and Support Allowance

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what safeguards he has put in place to prevent misdiagnosis at the medical assessment stage of employment and support allowance claims.

Maria Miller: The WCA is a functional assessment, which looks at what someone can do rather than basing entitlement on their diagnosis and it is therefore not necessary for health care professionals to make a diagnosis of the customer's reported medical conditions.
	The work of all health care professionals is subject to quality audit which is conducted by experienced medical auditors within Atos Healthcare. The quality of Atos Healthcare's audit is validated by senior medical auditors from Atos Healthcare and doctors working for the Chief Medical Adviser to the DWP.
	The contract between DWP and Atos Healthcare contains a number of quality targets which are monitored on a monthly basis. Quality and accuracy is also monitored through a variety of other methods including monthly management information, customer satisfaction surveys and feedback from complaints.

Employment Schemes: Scotland

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many benefits claimants have been assisted into employment through Jobcentre Plus offices in  (a) West Lothian and  (b) Scotland in 2010.

Chris Grayling: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Darra Singh. I have asked him to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Darra Singh:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about how many benefit claimants have been assisted into employment through Jobcentre Plus offices in (a) West Lothian and (b) Scotland in each month of 2010. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	There are many routes into employment and throughout the customer's journey they may have access to a range of services and help provided by Jobcentre Plus or our Private and Voluntary Sector partners to find work. Therefore the type of help required or provided will vary from customer to customer. As this help is not limited solely to Jobcentre Plus and not every customer informs Jobcentre Plus of the reason why they are leaving benefit we are unable to state the total number of benefit claimants Jobcentre Plus have assisted into employment.
	We can provide information for Jobseeker's Allowance customers only and the table below, which is taken from data available from the NOMIS website gives the number of Jobseeker's Allowance customers that have moved into work either with our assistance or through other channels. The numbers only show those Jobseeker's Allowance customers who notified us that they have started work. It does not include those people who flowed off benefit into other destinations, for example claimed other benefits or went into Government supported training.
	
		
			  Number 
			   West Lothian( 1)  Scotland 
			 January 305 7,165 
			 February 410 11,030 
			 March 525 12,365 
			 April 465 12,925 
			 May 540 15,200 
			 June 460 11,440 
			 July 455 11,305 
			 August 540 13,165 
			 September 580 12,095 
			 October 660 13,945 
			 November 535 11,220 
			 December 415 10,005 
			 (1) West Lothian (comprises Bathgate, Broxburn and Livingston Jobcentres).  Source:  The NOMIS (National Online Manpower Information Service). This is a departmental performance management, data capture and reporting tool. This type of internal management information does Part of the Department for Work and Pensions not form part of the official statistics outputs that are released by the Department in accordance with the UK Statistics Authority's Code of Practice.

Housing Benefit: Great Yarmouth

Brandon Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many recipients of housing benefit in Great Yarmouth received over £400 a week in the latest period for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: At October 2010, our records show that there were no households in Great Yarmouth local authority receiving housing benefit of over £400 per week.

Pensioners: Social Security Benefits

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people aged over 65 years receive attendance allowance and pension credit.

Maria Miller: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of claimants receiving both attendance allowance and pension credit in GB-May 2010 
			   All  Aged 65 and over 
			 Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit 707,170 707,140 
			  Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Total shows both the number of people in receipt of an allowance and those with entitlement where the payment has been suspended, for example if they are in hospital. 3. For a small number of AA cases no age is recorded. 4. Pension Credit was introduced on 6 October 2003 and replaced Minimum Income Guarantee (Income Support for people aged 60 or over). The vast majority of people who were previously in receipt of the Minimum Income Guarantee transferred to Pension Credit in October 2003. These Pension Credit statistics are produced on a different basis to the Early Estimates. The latter are timelier but operational processing times mean that a number of claim commencements and terminations are not reflected in them.  Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study

Pensions

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average level of pension of  (a) a woman and  (b) a man who retired in 2010.

Steve Webb: The latest figures available on income from state pension, occupational and personal pensions are in the following tables. Note that the figures are derived from different data sources, and differ in geographical coverage, time period and sample, and are therefore not directly comparable. The first table relates to individuals; the second table relates to benefit units (a benefit unit consists of a single person or a couple).
	
		
			  Table 1. Average total state pension received in March 2010 (£ per week), men and women in Great Britain reaching state pension age in the 2009-10 tax year 
			   Average amount (£)  Number of individuals 
			 Men 123.69 283,500 
			 Women 96.23 290,000 
			  Notes: 1. Total state pension includes all categories of state pension, and includes increments. 2. Average amounts are rounded to the nearest 1p, numbers of individuals are rounded to the nearest 100. 3. Figures do not include women who reached state pension age in the 2009-10 tax year but were not claiming their state pension in March 2010 because they had deferred. 4. Estimates are not yet available for the 2010-11 tax year.  Source: DWP Information Directorate, 5% sample administrative data 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2. Average occupational and personal pension incomes of recently retired benefit units in United Kingdom, 2008-09, £ per week (2010-11 price terms) 
			   Average amount (£)  Number of benefit units 
			 Single pensioners 71 900,000 
			  Of which:   
			 Men - 300,000 
			 Women - 600,000 
			 Pensioner couples 193 1,100,000 
			 "-" There are no estimates of average amounts available separately for single male pensioners and single female pensioners.  Notes: 1. "Recently retired" refers to those single women aged between 60 and 64, single men aged between 65 and 69, and pensioner couples where the head is between 65 and 69 if male, or between 60 and 64 if female. 2. Average amounts are rounded to the nearest £1. Numbers of benefit units are rounded to the nearest 50,000. 3. Estimates are derived from survey data and are not yet available for 2009-10 and 2010-11.  Source: DWP, The Pensioners' Incomes Series 2008-09

Pensions

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what proportion of the savings indentified as accruing from the revised timetable for increasing the state pension age is attributable to  (a) basic state pension,  (b) second state pension and  (c) pension credit paid to (i) men and (ii) women;
	(2)  what proportion of the savings indentified as accruing from the revised timetable for increasing the state pension age is attributable to  (a) men and  (b) women.

Steve Webb: The requested proportions are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   Saving on men  Saving on women 
			 Basic State Pension 44 56 
			 Additional Pension 48 52 
			 Pension Credit 58 42 
			 Total saving 46 54 
		
	
	However as shown in the Equality Impact Assessment published in conjunction with the revised timetable, in general men lose a slightly higher proportion of their lifetime pension income than women.

Pensions: Females

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the average level of a state second pension paid to a woman retiring in 2010.

Steve Webb: Latest data show that in March 2010, the average amount of Additional State Pension plus Graduated Retirement Benefit received by women in Great Britain, who reached State Pension age in the 2009-10 tax year, was around £17.00 per week.
	 Notes:
	1. Additional State Pension includes pension derived from the State Earnings Related Pension Scheme (SERPS) and from the State Second Pension (S2P) scheme.
	2. The average has been taken over only those individuals receiving Additional State Pension or Graduated Retirement Benefit.
	3. The figure has been rounded to the nearest 10p.
	4. The figure includes inherited amounts, and excludes increments.
	5. The figure does not include women who reached State Pension age in the 2009-10 tax year but were not claiming their State Pension in March 2010 because they had deferred.
	6. The Department does not yet have an estimate for people reaching State Pension age in the 2010-11 tax year.
	 Source:
	DWP Information Directorate, 5% sample administrative data

Public Sector: Pensions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effects on  (a) men and  (b) women of proposals for reform of public sector pensions.

Danny Alexander: holding answer 27 January 2011
	I have been asked to reply.
	The Government launched the Independent Public Service Pension Commission chaired by Lord Hutton last June to conduct a fundamental structural review of public service pension provision which will report to the Chancellor of the Exchequer before Budget.
	Ahead of the spending review Lord Hutton produced an interim report which found that the value of public service pensions had been increasing following dramatic increase in life expectancy at retirement. Current pensioners are expected to spend over 40% of their adult lives in retirement, compared to 30% for pensioners in the 1950s. Most of these extra costs have fallen to employers and taxpayers.
	At the spending review, based on the clear rationale set out in Lord Hutton's interim report, the Government announced that they would implement progressive changes to the level of employee contributions to public service pensions that lead to an additional saving of £1.8 billion a year from 2014-1 5, to be phased in from 2012-13. This is equivalent to three percentage point increase on average. In taking this decision, the Government considered a range of factors including the impact on gender equality.
	In addition, the Government announced their intention to launch consultations on the discount rate used to set contributions in unfunded public service pension schemes and the Fair Deal policy. Any assessment of the impact on gender equality will be undertaken in due course should there be any proposals to change policy.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 1 December 2010,  Official Report, column 874W, on social security benefits: fraud, where the information on the remaining 362 cases is held.

Chris Grayling: The 362 prosecution files are held at various locations across England and Wales including FIS offices, prosecution division legal offices, advocates' offices and remote storage.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 1 December 2010,  Official Report, column 874W, on social security benefits: fraud, if he will review the restrictions on publishing the names and other relevant details of those persons who have had warrants issued against them; and if he will assess the merits of publishing such data to assist in locating such persons and recovering public funds.

Chris Grayling: The Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Personal Data) (Elected Representatives) Order 2002-SI 2002/2905, provides for the release of personal data where an elected representative is acting pursuant to a request made by a data subject, usually an individual constituent.
	As this is not the case here and in these circumstances, the normal data protection laws apply.
	Neither the Data Protection Act 1998 nor article 8 of the European convention of human rights provide a legal gateway for the release of names, last known addresses or other personal information of individuals on whom warrants are held.

Social Security Benefits: Fraud

Priti Patel: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 1 December 2010,  Official Report, column 874W, on social security benefits: fraud, how many persons with warrants issued against them are  (a) non-UK nationals and  (b) persons not born in the UK.

Chris Grayling: Information on the number of people with arrests warrants who are  (a) non-UK nationals and  (b) not born in the UK is not available.

Social Security Benefits: Separated People

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has plans to reform the benefits available to separated parents with shared custody arrangements as part of his proposals to develop a universal credit.

Chris Grayling: We will be considering the detailed arrangements for the universal credit over the coming months.

Vocational Training

Michael Dugher: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has had discussions with training providers on the future of payment by results.

Chris Grayling: Since the Government announced their plans for radical reforms of the welfare to work system and the implementation of the Work Programme, as Minister for Employment, I have, along with the Minister for Welfare Reform (Lord Freud), and Officials from the Department for Work and Pensions, frequently met with training providers and associated bodies at which the issue of payment by result may have formed part of the discussion.
	The Invitation to Tender (ItT) for the Work Programme was issued to Framework Providers on 22 December 2010. In preparation for this, on 2 December 2010 the Director General for Employment held a meeting with organisations on the Provision of Employment Related Support Services Framework.
	On 8 December 2010, a draft of the Work Programme ItT was issued to Framework providers. In addition, an invitation was extended to these organisations to discuss the draft in a meeting with the Minister for Welfare Reform and I on 16 December 2010.
	On 20 December 2010, I held an open forum for small providers, voluntary organisations and potential sub-contractors in which issues around the funding model were discussed.

Work Capability Assessment

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions which recommendations of the Review of the Work Capability Assessment by Professor Malcolm Harrington his Department has implemented; and what the reasons are for those recommendations it has not implemented.

Chris Grayling: We welcome the first independent review of the WCA, led by Professor Malcolm Harrington. This is a thorough review that has reviewed a substantial amount of evidence. As a result, Professor Harrington has come forward with a wide range of far reaching and challenging proposals which the Government fully supports.
	We are committed to taking forward the review's recommendations so that we can make the system fairer and more effective. The Government response to Professor Harrington's review sets out how and when we will implement the recommendations of the review, almost all of which will be in place in time for the national roll-out of the incapacity benefits reassessment programme.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many Afghan civilians have been  (a) injured and  (b) killed through (i) ISAF operations and (ii) Taliban operations in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Fox: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Newport West (Paul Flynn), on 10 November 2010,  Official Report, column 392W.

Armed Forces: Absence Without Leave

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces were serving a sentence in the Military Corrective Training Centre, Colchester, for having gone absent without leave while under the age of 18 on the first day of each month between January 2009 and December 2010.

Andrew Robathan: The information requested is presented in the following table.
	
		
			  Date  Number serving in Military Corrective Training Centre 
			  2009  
			 January 1 
			 February 0 
			 March 1 
			 April 1 
			 May 4 
			 June 5 
			 July 6 
			 August 5 
			 September 4 
			 October 4 
			 November 3 
			 December 1 
			  2010  
			 January 0 
			 February 2 
			 March 2 
			 April 0 
			 May 1 
			 June 1 
			 July 0 
			 August 0 
			 September 0 
			 October 3 
			 November 5 
			 December 5

Armed Forces: Civil Aviation Authority

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether pilots in the armed forces are subject to regulation by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Nick Harvey: holding answer 31 January 2011
	When flying military aircraft as part of their military duty, armed forces' pilots are not subject to Civil Aviation Authority regulations.
	The Military Aviation Authority regulates, audits and assures all aspects of military aviation.

Armed Forces: Compensation

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what timetable he has set for implementation of the increased compensation payments for those ex-service personnel suffering mental health disorders.

Andrew Robathan: Implementation of the recommendations from the Lord Boyce Review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS), including the uplift in payments for mental health disorders, will be put into legislation in February 2011. New claimants will be paid the updated amounts from May 2011, and additional payments to those in receipt of previous awards will be made from June 2011 to June 2012.

Armed Forces: Compensation

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  which schemes will be affected by the proposal to increase payments to ex-service personnel with mental health disorders; and how much funding he plans to allocate to each such scheme;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the proposal to increase payments for ex-service personnel with mental health disorders in each year of the comprehensive spending review period.

Andrew Robathan: The only scheme that will be affected by the proposal to increase payments to ex-service personnel with mental health disorders will be the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS), for which financial provision is made by setting aside approximately 2% of the service pay bill each year. The increased payments will be funded through this provision.

Armed Forces: Compensation

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials in his Department undertook with armed forces charities in advance of the announcement of increased payments for ex-service personnel with mental health disorders.

Andrew Robathan: During the review of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS), ministerial and official level consultation was undertaken with the Independent Scrutiny Group (ISG) that supported Lord Boyce. This group included representation from service and ex-service organisations. The Central Advisory Committee on Pensions and Compensation (CAC) also met during this period.
	A four-week period of public engagement took place between October and November 2009 to seek views on what issues the AFCS review might cover. A further six-week consultation exercise commenced with members of the CAC in November 2010 to seek their views on the proposed amendments to AFCS legislation.

Armed Forces: Education

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the number of dependants of service personnel who are being educated in schools in Germany.

Andrew Robathan: The number of dependants of service personnel currently being educated in schools in Germany is approximately 7,000.

Armed Forces: Foreign Nationals

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many serving personnel in the  (a) Army,  (b) Royal Navy and  (c) Royal Air Force are not UK nationals.

Andrew Robathan: The number of non-UK personnel serving in each of the services is presented in the following table.
	
		
			  Non-UK nationals serving in the UK regular forces at 1 December 2010 
			   Number 
			 All services 9,220 
			 Naval Service 840 
			 Army 8,250 
			 RAF 130

Army: Redundancy

Michael Fallon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many army personnel took voluntary redundancy in each of the last three years.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 27 January 2011
	There have been no voluntary redundancies in the Army during the last three years.
	The Army does not have a voluntary redundancy programme-there have only ever been compulsory redundancy schemes. As part of the process of determining who should be made compulsorily redundant such schemes would normally invite interested personnel to apply for redundancy. Final decisions would depend on the Army's future manning requirements.

Departmental ICT

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many of his Department's (a) computers, (b) laptops and (c) memory sticks were (i) lost and (ii) stolen in each month in 2010.

Andrew Robathan: The Ministry of Defence takes any loss of information and associated media storage devices very seriously and has robust procedures in place to mitigate against such occurrences. New processes, instructions and technological aids are also being implemented to mitigate human errors and raise awareness of every individual in the Department.
	The following table details how many computers, laptops and USB flash memory devices were lost and stolen in each month in 2010.
	
		
			  Lost and stolen CIS 2010 
			   Computers  Laptops  USB flash memory devices 
			   Lost  Stolen  Lost  Stolen  Lost  Stolen 
			 January 0 1 2 4 1 0 
			 February 0 1 5 6 5 0 
			 March 0 0 9 3 1 0 
			 April 1 0 1 4 4 2 
			 May 1 0 5 1 3 0 
			 June 0 7 3 36 2 0 
			 July 0 0 3 1 2 0 
			 August 1 0 3 6 9 0 
			 September 0 0 3 1 14 0 
			 October 9 0 5 2 3 0 
			 November 0 0 5 8 2 0 
			 December 0 0 1 4 1 1 
			 Total 12 9 45 76 47 3 
			  Note:  These totals do not include incidents which are currently under investigation but current indications are that they relate to accounting anomalies during force rotation and/or disposal activities.

Departmental Manpower

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what new  (a) units and  (b) teams have been established within his Department since May 2010; and what the (i) name, (ii) purpose, (iii) staffing level and (iv) annual running cost is in each case.

Andrew Robathan: Changes to units and teams within the Ministry of Defence (MOD), as in any large organisation, are made frequently to take account of changing requirements and priorities and the need to constantly improve effectiveness and efficiency.
	Since May 2010, the following new units and teams with new remits and responsibilities headed by a senior civil servant, military one-star officer or above or equivalents have been established within the MOD:
	
		
			  Name  Purpose  Staffing level 
			 Directorate Children and Young People To set the Defence-wide direction for the strategy, structures, governance and quality assurance for the co-ordination of those services that support Service children and young people, at home and overseas. (1)8 
			 Project AVANTI To restructure the Army's Personnel Support Command at regional Division and Brigade levels following the Strategic Defence and Security Review. (2)3 
			 XO Air Command Programme direction for the implementation of the Capability Structures Review and subsequent change programmes within the Air HQ on behalf of Commander-in-Chief Air, following the Strategic Defence and Security Review. 44 
			 Defence Equipment and Support Airworthiness Team To provide timely airworthiness support to Defence Equipment and Support teams to enable them to produce and support airworthy systems that can be operated safely through-life and to assure Chief of Materiel (Air) that airworthiness is being effectively managed. 20 
			 Submarine Enterprise Performance Programme To work collaboratively with the three Tier 1 Industrial Partners to transform the way the submarine enterprise is delivered and managed, following the Value for Money Review and the Strategic Defence and Security Review. 15 
			 Portfolio Management Office Team within the Defence Estates Strategy and Policy Directorate To take forward Strategic Defence and Security Review implementation work. 7 
			 Defence Reform Unit To support the Defence Reform Steering Group in conducting a fundamental examination of how the Ministry of Defence is structured and managed. 21 
			 (1) Including the Director who also acts as Chief Executive of The Service Children's Education Agency. (2) Three dedicated posts embedded within an existing programme team. 
		
	
	All of these posts have been filled by reprioritising staff from other tasks and teams. The budgets to cover the running costs of these units and teams are allocated as part of the MOD's annual planning round, which is not yet concluded. The establishment of these units and teams, however, has not required an increase in the overall Defence budget.
	Details of the organisation of the Ministry of Defence are published on the following website:
	http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/Structure/DepartmentalOrganisationCharts1.htm

Departmental Redundancy

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate has been made of the cost to his Department of redundancies in each of the next five financial years.

Andrew Robathan: We are refining the estimated costs of redundancy and early release as we go through the Department's annual Planning Round. Compensation payments depend on a number of factors including salary, rank/grade and length of service. The precise drawdown of military and civilian staff is still being considered. Estimates are therefore subject to change. The Planning Round is expected to conclude in the spring at which point we will be prepared to set out the estimates for early release under the expected terms of the civilian and service schemes.

Ex-servicemen: Radiation Exposure

Thomas Docherty: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what grounds his Department is contesting the claims of atomic veterans in the War Pensions Tribunal; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Robathan: All applications for war pensions are considered on their particular facts of the case. We do not comment on individual cases. Where a claim is rejected individuals have a right to appeal to an independent tribunal.
	The Ministry of Defence has rejected some war pensions relating to nuclear test veterans and each appellant has been given reasons in writing. The veterans are now appealing those reasons to the tribunal and the Secretary of State is defending the reasons for rejection given in each case.

Ex-servicemen: Radiation Exposure

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish each document held by his Department and not yet released relating to British nuclear tests in the South Pacific.

Andrew Robathan: In accordance with the Public Records Acts, the Ministry of Defence withholds from release to the public at the National Archives files that are over 30 years old, or extracts from them, if and for so long as their contents are judged to be sensitive.
	In relation to nuclear test veterans and recent legal proceedings, the Ministry of Defence has worked closely with the High Court and the War Pensions Tribunal with a view to ensuring that relevant material from classified documents can be used, subject to special security arrangements.

Ex-servicemen: Radiation Exposure

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the Prime Minister on an out-of-court settlement for British nuclear test veterans.

Andrew Robathan: The Secretary of State for Defence has not discussed with the Prime Minister an out-of-court settlement for British nuclear test veterans.

Military Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to  (a) lease and  (b) purchase (i) P-3 Orion, (ii) Airbus A319 MPA and (iii) P-8 Poseidon aircraft.

Peter Luff: We currently have no plans to lease or purchase P-3 Orion, Airbus A319 MPA or P-8 Poseidon aircraft. However, following the decision not to bring the Nimrod MRA4 into service we are keeping our future requirement for maritime patrol aircraft under review.

Nimrod Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the suitability of the electronic equipment removed from the MR4A for installation on P-3 Orion aircraft.

Peter Luff: No such assessment has been made. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 21 January 2011,  Official Report, column 1024W.

Nimrod Aircraft: Radar

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Searchwater radar installed on the Nimrod MR2 was removed for future use on other aircraft.

Peter Luff: Some elements of the Searchwater radar installed on the Nimrod MR2 aircraft have been retained as spares for use on the Royal Navy's Airborne Surveillance and Area Control Sea King helicopter which is fitted with a variant of the same radar.

Orion Aircraft

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions his officials have had with officials of the United States Air Force on the leasing of P-3 Orion aircraft.

Peter Luff: No discussions have taken place with officials from the United States Air Force on leasing P-3 Orion aircraft.

Rescue Services

Brian H Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the future use of armed forces pilots in search and rescue services under his proposals for the future of such services.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 31 January 2011
	I refer the hon. Member to the written statement made by the Secretary of State for Transport, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) on 16 December 2010,  Official Report, column 133WS. It would be inappropriate to comment on any specific aspects of the project in advance of a further announcement on the way forward.

Reserve Forces

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he plans to announce the outcome of his Department's study of reserve forces.

Andrew Robathan: The review is to conclude in the summer.
	A copy of the terms of reference for the Future Reserves 2020 study, which is being led by the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff and my hon. Friend the Member for Canterbury (Mr Brazier), has been placed in the Library of the House.

War Pensions

Louise Bagshawe: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what rates of travel and subsistence expenses can be claimed from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency by war pensioners; when the current rates were implemented; and whether he has plans to review the rates in the light of increases in the cost of travel and subsistence.

Andrew Robathan: The rate payable to war disablement pensioners, for travel costs incurred when obtaining treatment for service related conditions, is 25 pence per mile, although 43 pence per mile may be paid for severely disabled war pensioners.
	An escort allowance of three pence per mile can be claimed. Alternatively, war pensioners can claim the actual cost of public transport for them and an approved escort. Subsistence costs for the war pensioner and an approved escort can also be claimed. In 2007 the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency (SPVA) aligned the review process with that of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC). HMRC have not changed their rates since 2007 and the war pensions rates have therefore remained constant. No reviews are planned before the next Budget.

JUSTICE

Appeals: Social Security Benefits

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the backlog in appeals was for  (a) incapacity benefit and  (b) employment and support allowance in each of the last eight quarters.

Jonathan Djanogly: There are always a number of 'live' appeals in the First tier Tribunal-Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) progressing through the stages of receipt, decision and promulgation. These levels of 'work in hand' for the relevant benefits at the time points requested are set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of ESA/IB appeals ' i n hand' 
			  Quarter  Caseload for ESA/IB combined 
			  2008  
			 December 20,200 
			   
			  2009  
			 March 19,600 
			 June 23,100 
			 September 39,800 
			 December 59,800 
			   
			  2010  
			 March 74,400 
			 June 85,400 
			 September 99,200 
			  Note: We are not able to provide information for incapacity benefit (IB) and employment support allowance (ESA) separately. The table shows the caseload for the 04 tribunal category, which consists of IB and ESA cases. However, it is possible that small numbers of these are captured in other tribunal categories. 
		
	
	The total level of work in hand cannot be described as a backlog. As the volumes of SSCS receipts increased significantly and rapidly beyond forecast, the capacity of the Tribunals Service to deal with them has also increased in response; the number of employment support allowance and incapacity benefit cases disposed of in the second quarter of 2010-11 were more than double those cleared in the equivalent period the preceding year.
	In September 2010, in respect of employment support allowance and incapacity benefit appeals, capacity increases meant that around a third of the work in hand was in excess of normal levels. As the Tribunals Service capacity continues to increase, it expects to return to normal levels of work in hand for employment support allowance and incapacity benefit cases by summer 2011.

Appeals: Social Security Benefits

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will discuss with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions the reasons for recent trends in the volume of appeals against employment and support allowance decisions.

Jonathan Djanogly: Ministers in both Departments are in regular contact about the recent trends in the volume of appeals against employment and support allowance decisions.
	To support this, officials in the Tribunals Service and the Department for Work and Pensions are working closely together through a joint Task Force. The Task Force aims both to reduce the level of appeals arising through improved initial decision making and to increase capacity within the Tribunals Service to deal with the additional workload.

Bribery

Tom Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  which  (a) individuals and  (b) organisations have made representations to him advocating a delay in the implementation of the outstanding provisions of the Bribery Act 2010;
	(2)  whether he plans to publish  (a) the responses received and  (b) the names of respondees to the consultation on guidance relating to the implementation of the Bribery Act 2010.

Jonathan Djanogly: As regards representations to delay implementation, the recent consultation on the statutory guidance on the procedures that relevant commercial organisations can put in place focused on the content of the guidance not on the timing of implementation. Some respondents however also referred to issues of timing.
	Subject to considering any particular requests for confidentiality, we intend to publish the written responses received, and the names of those who responded, to the consultation on guidance about commercial organisations preventing bribery. This will include any representations made either to delay implementation or to proceed as planned or more swiftly.

Cartel Client Review

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what steps his Department has taken in respect of  (a) Cartel Client Review and  (b) its office holders since March 2010; what the status of the company is; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Djanogly: . EWHC 941 (QB) (29 April 2010).

Chief Coroner

Julian Sturdy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will assess the merits of reviewing the role of the chief coroner.

Jonathan Djanogly: On 14 October 2010,  Official Report, columns 36-38WS, I announced to Parliament the Government's intention to abolish the office of chief coroner and transfer certain functions to other suitable bodies. This decision was taken in the context of the current economic circumstances, and the need for Government to make substantial savings to deal with the budget deficit. Given, for example, the legal aid reforms and the programme of court closures that we have proposed as part of our efficiency savings, we do not believe that the new additional funding that the office of chief coroner would require is justifiable. I am confident that we can address the key requirements of coroner reform without the office of chief coroner.

Courts: Fees and Charges

Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his policy is on applying the proposed 10 per cent. reduction in civil court fees to the County Court Possession Duty scheme.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Housing Possession Court Duty Schemes funded by the Legal Service Commission provides free on the day advice and representation for people facing repossession.
	The proposal is that the 10% reduction in the level of fees paid to legal aid providers, as set out in the Government's recent consultation "Proposals for the Reform of Legal Aid in England and Wales", will apply to all fees paid under the civil and family legal aid scheme, including work carried out under the Housing Possession Court Duty Scheme.

Departmental Marketing

Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost to the public purse was of the manufacture and distribution of Department branded drinks coasters in the last financial year for which figures are available.

Jonathan Djanogly: There are no central records for expenditure on coasters for the financial year 2009-10. It would incur disproportionate costs to examine every transaction to see if coasters were involved.
	In the financial year 2010-11, there is a Government-wide freeze on advertising and marketing expenditure. Should cases be brought forward for branded coasters these would be declined.

Ford Prison: Manpower

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the operational staffing requirement for  (a) operational managers,  (b) prison officer grades and  (c) operational support grades at HM Prison Ford was on 31 March in each of the last 10 years.

Crispin Blunt: The information provided by the establishment is contained in the following table and is for 31 March for the respective year.
	
		
			   2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008  2009  2010 
			 OSG 31 34 33 34 33 33 32 32 32 35 
			 Principal Officer/DPSM 4 3 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 
			 Operational Manager/Senior Manager 5 6 6 5 8 6 7 8 6.4 5.4 
			 Prison Officer 45 46 46 45.5 52 49 51 49 51 51 
			 Senior Officer 14 15 15 14 16 10 10 11 10 10 
			 Grand total 99 104 104 103.5 114 103 105 105 104.4 105.4

Members: Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when he intends to answer the letter sent to him by the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton on 23 November 2010, with regard to Mr A Richards.

Kenneth Clarke: I apologise for the delay in responding. A reply will be sent shortly.

Prison Service: ICT

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  whether his Department has conducted a review of the effectiveness of the use of In-Vision for staff rostering purposes in the Prison Service; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the use of In-Vision for staff rostering purposes in the Prison Service; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: The information is as follows:
	 (1) In April 2010 My Detail (In-Vision staff roster tool) was installed in all public sector prison establishments.
	A post implementation review of the tool assessing both effectiveness and use has yet to be completed. However, in August/September 2010 the Departments My Detail central support team assessed the level of use of the tool by each establishment. As a consequence of this review a national implementation plan was developed with each establishment placed in one of three categories identifying the level of support required for them to achieve efficient and effective use of the tool. Since late autumn the central team has been working with establishments in accordance with the implementation plan.
	Delays in the full implementation of the system have meant that the focus of the Department has been in ensuring that it is fully deployed in all prison establishments. Once this is completed the system will be subject to on-going assessments to ensure that it meets the requirements of the prison service. A post-implementation review is planned to take place nine to 12 months after full deployment across the whole estate.
	 (2) My Detail (In-Vision staff roster tool) was installed in all public sector prisons in April 2010. The system is now actively used in 111 public sector jails, fully deployed in 92; with partial deployment in 19 establishments.
	It has yet to be fully implemented in the remaining 18 establishments however nine of this group are expected to complete implementation before the end of this financial year (March 2011).

Prison Service: ICT

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what cost savings have been achieved by the National Offender Management Service following the introduction of In-Vision for staff rostering purposes in the Prison Service; what savings to the public purse he estimates will arise from its use in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what  (a) development and  (b) implementation costs were incurred by the National Offender Management Service in relation to the In-Vision self-rostering IT programme; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what the running costs were of the In-Vision self-rostering IT programme in the last year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: The information is as follows:
	 (1) The first tranche of savings from the project saw establishment budgets being reduced for the 2009-10 financial year onwards: this amounted to £3 million per annum. Over the course of the project life this budget reduction equates to £9 million.
	The second tranche of savings will come from the post-implementation review of My Detail. Already evidence of significant savings has emerged where the tool has been fully deployed. For example one establishment has been able to significantly reduce the amount of 'time off in lieu' TOIL) since My Detail came in to use. This reduction (approximately 3000 hours per annum) is attributed to having a greater visibility over staff on duty leading to improved utilisation of those staff across the establishment and across the day.
	 (2) The costs outlined as follows cover the investment made by NOMS during the lifetime of the project (October 2007 to April 2010):
	(a) Total development costs (as at April 2010) were £14.4 million; this figure includes the cost of development, testing and maintenance.
	(b) Implementation costs including cost of training and on-site implementation support to establishments were £1.7 million.
	 (3) My Detail is yet to be operational for a full financial year however it is anticipated that total running costs for 2010-11 will be £1.9 million.

Prison Service: ICT

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which prisons are using In-Vision for staff rostering purposes; and if he will make a statement.

Crispin Blunt: In-Vision (My Detail) is now in use in 111 public sector jails, fully deployed in 92; it has yet to be fully implemented in the remaining 18 establishments. It is anticipated that by the end of the current financial year 'My Detail' will be in use in all but nine establishments. For this group detailed local implementation plans are being prepared which will ensure that the system is fully deployed across the whole estate by the end of 2011.

Tribunals

Jon Cruddas: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice for what reasons the Tribunals Service has not published the number and outcomes of appeals concerning incapacity benefit and other social security benefits between the second quarter of 2006 and the fourth quarter of 2008-09; and if he will place such information in the Library.

Jonathan Djanogly: Social Security and Child Support Appeals became the responsibility of the Tribunals Service on 1 April 2006. The introduction of a new computer system during 2006-07 meant that appeals information was not available for that year.
	A table giving information on volumes and outcomes from 2007-08 to 2008-09 will be placed in the Library of the House.
	In 2009, the Code of Practice for Official Statistics was extended to include management information and administrative data. The Chief Statistician reviewed all non-financial information for the Ministry of Justice and arm's length bodies. In line with this code, in June 2010, the Tribunals Service started to publish Official Statistics on a quarterly basis, providing data for the fourth quarter of 2009-10 and for the annual 2009-10 period. These are available on the Tribunals Service website at:
	http://www.tribunals.gov.uk/Tribunals/Publications/publications.htm

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Audit Commission: Expenditure

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Audit Commission spent on photography in each of the last three financial years.

Bob Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I will ask the chief executive of the Audit Commission to respond to my hon. Friend direct.
	 Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 1 February 2011:
	Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
	The Audit Commission has spent £21,757.40 on photography in the last three financial years as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2008-09 2,927.40 
			 2009-10 18,230.40 
			 2010-11 600.00 
			 Total 21,757.40 
		
	
	The costs include the purchase of digital images from online libraries in addition to the use of photographers.
	The main reason for the increase in expenditure in 2009/10 was the extra photography work used for the launch and reporting of Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) in 2009.
	The work on CAA was led by the Commission on behalf of the six partner inspectorates. Marketing costs for CAA and the Oneplace reporting website were supported by a grant from the Department for Communities and Local Government. Subsequently the new government announced the abolition of CAA in June 2010.
	The Commission uses photographs for its printed publications and websites.

Audit Commission: Public Appointments

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which commissioners on the Board of the Audit Commission who had expressed a willingness to serve a further term on the Board have not had their term renewed in the last three years; and which commissioners were subsequently appointed in their place.

Bob Neill: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government announced in August 2010 that the Audit Commission would be disbanded and the work of its audit practice transferred to the private sector. My right hon. Friend decided that the Commission Board needed additional private sector expertise to help steer the organisation as it addresses these changes. Accordingly he appointed three Commissioners (Janet Baker, Brian Landers and Tony Harris) with significant private sector expertise, and decided that Dame Denise Piatt and Jenny Watson would not be reappointed after their first terms expired on 31 August 2010. The Secretary of State wrote to both Dame Denise Piatt and Ms Watson to thank them for their service.

Community Development

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will assess the threat posed to community cohesion by far-left extremism.

Andrew Stunell: The Government will not tolerate those who spread hate and seek to divide society and deliberately raise community tensions. The Government, working with police and other agencies, routinely assesses community tensions.
	Where appropriate suitable measures are taken at community level by the relevant authorities to counter the influence of extremists and minimise their impact.

Council Housing: Sales

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) freehold and  (b) leasehold local authority-owned homes were sold in England and Wales in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Andrew Stunell: Information on the number of local authority housing sales in England can be found in table 1 of "Social Housing Sales to Sitting Tenants, England 2009-10". However this information does not distinguish between freehold and leasehold sales.
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/statistics/doc/17207661.doc
	Corresponding information for Wales is published in table 3 of "New House Building and Social Housing Sales, July to September 2010".
	http://wales.gov.uk/docs/statistics/2010/101215sdr2222010en.pdf

Departmental Carbon Emissions

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent steps his Department has taken to reduce its carbon emissions to meet the target of reducing central Government carbon emissions by 10 per cent. by June 2011.

Bob Neill: The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has implemented a range of measures in working towards the 10% reduction target.
	DCLG's strategy has centred on maximising low and no cost measures, including adopting lean building management techniques such as reducing operating hours of equipment, and switching off non-essential lighting. This approach allows for rapid implementation and immediate benefit in accruing emissions reductions without the need for capital investment.
	The Department has also developed changes in behaviour to help encourage staff to reduce their direct energy use, such as by using stairs rather than lifts, reducing printing further, and reminding staff to switch of computers and monitors whenever not in use. Board-level commitment has also ensured that carbon reduction is suitably prioritised at all levels across the Department.
	A number of modest capital projects, with short returns on investment, have also been undertaken, including installation of voltage reduction equipment, boiler optimisers, fan and motor controls, and automated meter readers.
	DCLG will continue to monitor its progress towards the 10% target.

Departmental Legal Costs

Nick Raynsford: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on legal advice in December 2010.

Bob Neill: holding answer 24 January 2011
	According to departmental records, in the month of December 2010, £166,778.35 was spent on external legal services.
	As I indicated in a previous answer to the right hon. Member, this compares to a comparable spend of £4.8 million in 2009-10.

Departmental Marketing

Conor Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the cost to the public purse was of the manufacture and distribution of Department-branded drinks coasters in the last financial year for which figures are available.

Bob Neill: Departmental records show no expenditure on branded drinks coasters in the last financial year 2009-10 or to date.

Departmental Overseas Visits

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will list each overseas visit undertaken by Ministers in his Department in 2009-10; at which hotels those Ministers stayed at the public expense during such visits; and what the purpose was of each such visit.

Bob Neill: The information requested is as follows:
	 Minister
	 Right hon. Sadiq Khan MP
	Date: 5-9 April 2009
	Destination: Karachi, Islamabad and Mipur, Pakistan
	Purpose of trip: Ministerial visit on Preventing Extremism
	Date: 17-20 May 2009
	Destination: Riyadh Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia
	Purpose of trip: Ministerial visit on Preventing Extremism
	 Right hon. John Denham MP
	Date: 3-7 January 2010
	Destination: Dhaka and Sylhet, Bangladesh
	Purpose of trip: Meeting with Bangladeshi Government and community representatives
	 Iain Wright MP
	Date: 18-21 March 2009
	Destination: Pisa, Italy
	Purpose of trip: Seminar on energy efficiency
	Date: 30-31 March 2009
	Destination: Paris, France
	Purpose of trip: Participating in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
	 Right hon. Rosie Winterton MP
	Date: 16 November 2009
	Destination: Utrecht, Netherlands
	Purpose of trip: Attendance of the Council of European Ministers Conference
	Date: 17 March 2010
	Destination: Malaga, Spain
	Purpose of trip: European Conference on Local and Regional Government
	We are not disclosing the names of hotels used for ministerial visits for security reasons.

Departmental Plants

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department spent on cut flowers under the Mitie Integrated Facilities Management Contract from the date on which the contract was initiated to the end of April 2010.

Bob Neill: The Department has not incurred any expenditure on the provision of cut flowers.
	In July 2004, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister signed a contract with Mitie for maintenance of internal plants in Eland House. The following table identifies how much that Department and subsequently the Department for Communities and Local Government spent on this:
	
		
			  Contract year  Cost £ 
			 July 2004 to June 2005 5,555.88 
			 July 2005 to June 2006 5,555.88 
			 July 2006 to June 2007 6,634.32 
			 July 2007 to June 2008 6,634.32 
			 July 2008 to June 2009 6,634.32 
			 July 2009 to June 2010 6,454.58 
			 July 2010 to September 2010 1,388.97 
			 Total 38,858.27 
		
	
	In July 2010, the Department gave due notice that this contract would be terminated and the contract formally ended in September 2010.
	The pot plants are owned by the Department, rather than leased, and following suggestions by staff in feedback on departmental cost savings, the plants will be looked after by departmental staff on a voluntary basis.
	No new pot plants have been procured since May 2010.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on taxis since May 2010.

Bob Neill: The Department has spent £90,215 on taxis since May 2010.
	To put this in context in the previous financial year, 2009-10, the Department spent £292,346 in the last financial year.
	Staff have been reminded that, wherever practicable, they should use public transport for all official journeys.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on conferences since May 2010.

Bob Neill: According to departmental records £321,164 was spent on conferences from May until the end of the year 2010.
	Since the new administration came into place the Department has implemented an advertising and marketing freeze, which includes conferences and delegate attendance.
	The majority of this spend data refers to items procured in the last financial year and paid for this term.
	Expenditure on conferences for the two previous years was:
	2008-09: £2,137,312
	2009-10: £1,965,843

Departmental Public Expenditure

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much his Department has spent on hospitality since May 2010.

Bob Neill: Departmental records show the following spend on hospitality from May to December 2010. Hospitality is defined here as food and drink provided for meetings, etc.
	
		
			   May to December 2010 (£) 
			 Spend on hospitality with the Department's facilities management supplier 116,951 
			 Spend on hospitality with other suppliers 9,610 
			 Spend on hospitality through Government Procurement Card (GPC) 6,399 
			 Total spend on hospitality 132,960 
		
	
	To place this in context, in the last financial year 2009-10 the Department spent the following:
	
		
			   2009-10 (£) 
			 Spend on hospitality with the Department's facilities management supplier 337,621 
			 Spend on hospitality with other suppliers 106,616 
			 Spend on hospitality through Government Procurement Card (GPC) 11,906 
			 Total spend on hospitality 456,142

Departmental Temporary Employment

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many civil servants were appointed on fixed term contracts without open competition in his Department in  (a) 2008-09 and  (b) 2009-10; and what their job titles were in each case.

Bob Neill: In the financial year 2008-09, 19 civil servants were employed on fixed term contracts in the Department for Communities and Local Government under limited competition, a further 24 were appointed in 2009-2010.
	The 19 civil servants appointed under limited competition in 2008-09 had job titles of:
	Four administrative officers
	Seven executive officers
	Five higher executive officers
	Two senior executive officers
	One Grade 7
	The 24 civil servants appointed under limited competition in 2009-10 had job titles of:
	Five administrative officers
	10 executive officers
	Three higher executive officers
	One senior executive officer
	Two Grade 7s
	One Grade 6
	One deputy director (SCS pay band 1)
	One legal trainee
	All of the appointments, besides four made in 2009-10, have since been terminated.

Departments: Credit Cards

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Audit Commission spent on its corporate credit card facility in 2009-10.

Bob Neill: This is an operational matter for the Audit Commission and I have asked the chief executive of the Audit Commission to write to my hon. Friend direct.
	 Letter from Eugene Sullivan, dated 1 February 2011:
	Your Parliamentary Question has been passed to me to reply.
	The Audit Commission has given designated staff Government Procurement Cards (GPC) for small ad hoc business purchases as the most efficient way of dealing with low cost purchasing for items such as office stationary, travel and small items of IT equipment. We moved to .a new Commission-wide purchasing system in June 2010. This has enabled us to reduce the number of spending categories and the number of card holders to 32.
	The Commission spent £505,907.62 on its GPC cards in the financial year 2009/2010. This was for 3,898 transactions, at an average cost of £129.46 and covered mainly stationery purchases, travel and accommodation, and IT equipment and supplies.

Empty Property

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many empty dwelling management orders were  (a) applied for by local authorities and  (b) authorised by Residential Property Tribunals in each year since 2006.

Andrew Stunell: A list of empty dwelling management orders  (a) applied for by local authorities and  (b) authorised by the Residential Property Tribunal Service in each year since 2006 is given as follows:
	
		
			   EDMO applied for  EDMO authorised by RPTS 
			 2006 2 0 
			 2007 14 12 
			 2008 15 10 
			 2009 10 8 
			 2010 22 13 
			 2011 1 0

Empty Property

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consultation his Department undertook with  (a) local authorities and  (b) other stakeholders before announcing his planned reforms to empty dwelling management orders.

Andrew Stunell: Over the summer the Department gathered evidence from local authorities, housing associations and others on what further steps could be taken to bring empty homes back into use through a series of events held in London and Manchester. The Minister for Housing and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Welwyn Hatfield (Grant Shapps), also took part in the Homes and Communities Agency's online debate on maximising the use of empty homes. The online debate was visited 7,221 times and 138 comments were posted. 40% of participants were from the public sector, 25% were from the civic sector, 21% from the private sector.

Empty Property

Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much funding his Department has allocated to London borough councils to reduce the incidence of long-term empty dwellings.

Andrew Stunell: £192.2 million Private Sector Renewal funding was allocated to London boroughs over the period 2008-11. While work to bring empty homes back into use is a key feature of private sector renewal work, this was an un-ringfenced funding stream, and the Department does not collect information on how funding has been used. However, the Mayor of London's Housing Strategy reports that £60 million of Private Sector Renewal funding has been allocated to bring empty homes in London back into use over this period.
	Going forwards, we are proposing to give local authorities a powerful financial incentive to take action on empty homes by including them in the New Homes Bonus. And we intend to provide £100 million over the spending review period to bring over 3,000 empty homes nationally back into use as affordable rented housing.

Empty Property

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations he has received from local authorities following his decision to retain empty dwelling management orders.

Andrew Stunell: We have received a number of representations on our proposals to amend empty dwelling management orders including one from the Empty Homes Network whose membership consists of local authority empty homes practitioners.
	Our proposals will allow local authorities to take action against genuinely derelict housing which blight neighbourhoods, while introducing new safeguards to respect the right of responsible home owners.

Fire Services

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects to respond to the Fire Futures review of options for the future provision of fire and rescue services in England; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: I am considering the Fire Futures reports I received from the sector on 15 December 2010 and intend to formally respond in March.

Fire Services: Greater London

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the average response time was for fire appliances in London attending  (a) dwelling fires,  (b) commercial building fires and  (c) road traffic accidents in each of the last 12 months.

Bob Neill: The average response times for fire appliances in London attending  (a) dwelling fires,  (b) commercial building fires and  (c) road traffic collisions in each of the last 12 months for which data are available are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Response times( 1)  in minutes to dwelling fires, commercial building fires and road traffic collisions in Greater London, October 2009 to September 2010( 2) 
			  Minutes 
			  Period  Dwelling fires( 3)  Commercial buildings( 4)  Road traffic collisions 
			 October 2009 5.9 6.0 6.5 
			 November 2009 6.7 5.6 6.7 
			 December 2009 6.1 6.9 6.9 
			 January 2010 6.0 6.0 6.5 
			 February 2010 5.8 5.1 5.9 
			 March 2010 5.9 5.1 6.8 
			 April 2010 5.8 4.8 6.6 
			 May 2010 6.1 6.2 6.5 
			 June 2010 6.6 7.2 7.7 
			 July 2010 6.6 7.1 7.3 
			 August 2010 6.4 6.6 7.2 
			 September 2010 6.8 6.8 7.0 
			 (1) As per previous figures, excludes fires where (i) there was heat and smoke damage only, (ii) the call was made after the fire was known to be extinguished, (iii) where the response time calculated gives an hour or more. This is to prevent any erroneous data or exceptional incidents from skewing the average figures. (2) Data are provisional. (3) In order to be consistent with data source prior to April 2009, chimney fires not included in calculation. (4) Commercial buildings are taken to be offices and call centres and buildings in the following sectors: retail, wholesale, hotels, holiday accommodation, food and drink, transport, vehicle repair and communications.  Source: DCLG analysis of Incident Recording System data

Fire Services: Greater London

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when Ministers in his Department last  (a) met and  (b) corresponded with (i) the Chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, (ii) employees of AssetCo and (iii) representatives of AssetCo; and if he will place in the Library (A) details of those discussions and (B) copies of such correspondence.

Bob Neill: I last met with the Chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority on 18 January 2011 to discuss national functions in the Fire and Rescue Service. I last corresponded with the Chair, along with all other Fire and Rescue Authorities Chairs on 13 January 2011 to alert him to the consultation on the future of Fire and Rescue control services. I met employees of AssetCo on 11 October.
	It is not our practice to place internal notes of confidential meetings between Ministers and other parties in the Library of the House. However, I have placed a copy of my last correspondence with the Chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority as requested.

Home Ownership

Andrew Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what the Homes and Communities Agency's underspend was on Home Ownership for People with Long-Term Disabilities products  (a) nationally and  (b) in the North West Region in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  what funding was allocated to the Homes and Communities Agency for expenditure on Home Ownership for People Living with Long-Term Disabilities products in the North West region in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(3)  what plans he has to ensure that Home Ownership for People Living with Long-Term Disabilities products continue to be offered where to do so is in line with Government policy;
	(4)  what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health on the continuation of Home Ownership for People Living with Long-Term Disabilities products since the publication of Valuing people now.

Andrew Stunell: Home Ownership for people with Long-Term Disabilities (HOLD) enables people who are unable to access the Government's mainstream new build low cost home ownership programme, due to the need to live in a specific location, to purchase a property on the open market suitable to their needs on shared ownership terms with a housing association.
	My Department, through the Homes and Communities Agency, provides capital funding, to housing providers to assist them with the purchase of properties under HOLD. There is no separate funding for the scheme and registered housing providers can bid for funding from the Affordable Housing Programme at any time. As announced in the spending review, we are investing £4.5 billion to deliver 150,000 affordable homes. This will include support for the provision of shared ownership and the HOLD scheme where this is a local priority. My officials work closely with officials at the Department of Health regarding the HOLD scheme.
	Since 2006, the Department has invested £15.9 million to help 430 households purchase a home on shared ownership terms through the HOLD scheme.

Housing Revenue Accounts

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2011,  Official Report, column 438W, on housing revenue accounts, what the  (a) amounts distributed to authorities in deficit,  (b) amounts contributed by authorities in surplus and  (c) net expenditure by the Exchequer were to date in the financial year 2010-11.

Andrew Stunell: The overall surpluses, deficits and the net housing revenue account subsidy position are given in the following table:
	
		
			  Housing revenue account subsidy 2010-11 
			   £ 
			 Total surpluses (receipts) -910,667,965 
			 Total deficits (payments) 400,768,302 
			 Net housing revenue account subsidy -509,899,663 
			  Notes: 1. All assumed surpluses are captured and transferred to the Exchequer. Payments to authorities in deficit are net dependent on the amounts received from those in surplus. 2. Data are taken from the second advance subsidy claim for the year and are subject to adjustment. 
		
	
	Measures have been published in the Localism Bill to reform the housing revenue account finance regime and replace housing revenue account subsidy with a system of self-financing for local housing authorities.

Local Government Association: Freedom of Information

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make the Local Government Association subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Bob Neill: The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, my right hon. Friend the Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr Pickles), specifically indicated his intention that the Local Government Group should be formally subject to Freedom of Information requirements, as part of the agreement to continue paying Revenue Support Grant top-slice funding on behalf of the sector. The Ministry of Justice announced on 7 January that it intends to consult the Local Government Association regarding its possible inclusion in the Freedom of Information Act.

Non-domestic Rates: Empty Property

Aidan Burley: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the change in the level of aggregate business rate revenue as a result of the increase in empty property business rates since 2008-09; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: From 1 April 2008, the liability of owners of empty non-industrial properties was raised to 100% (from 50%) of the occupied rate after a three month exemption period; and of empty industrial properties to 100% (previously exempt) of the occupied rate after a six months exemption period. The rateable value threshold below which empty properties were exempt from rates remained at £2,200.
	For 2009-10, the threshold was raised from £2,200 to £15,000; and for 2010-11, was raised again to £18,000. This is due to revert to £2,600 for 2011-12. However, the Government will keep this matter under review.
	Data on the amount of empty property relief granted are collected annually from local authorities. The following table shows the amount of empty property rate relief awarded since 2007-08.
	
		
			  Table 1: Empty property rate relief since 2006-07 
			  £ million 
			   2007-08   2008-09   2009-10   2010-11( 1) 
			 Empty Property Relief 1,294.0 (2)- 487.0 (2)- 1,117.9 (2)- 907.8 
			 (1) Those for 2010-11 are budget estimates. (2) Discontinuity.  Note: Data for 2007-08 to 2009-10 are outturn figures 
		
	
	Although amendments to empty property relief policy explain part of the change in the amount of empty property relief awarded, factors such as the number of empty properties, and the length of time properties are left empty, can also contribute.
	As I outlined in my answer of 22 October 2010,  Official Report, column 929W, this illustrates the significant revenue costs of undoing the tax changes imposed by the last Government. The new Government's ability to tackle the last Government's tax changes is constrained by the overwhelming public policy objective of addressing the budget deficit we have inherited.

Non-domestic Rates: Sports

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the practice of local authorities  (a) withdrawing and  (b) capping discretionary rate relief on sport and leisure facilities.

Bob Neill: None. The granting of discretionary relief is entirely a matter for individual billing authorities. They must satisfy themselves that they are acting within relevant legislation and case law. Notwithstanding, the Localism Bill will increase the powers of local authorities to offer local business rate discounts.

Planning

Zac Goldsmith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his timetable is for publication of the national planning policy framework.

Bob Neill: In the Department for Communities and Local Government business plan the Government indicated that we expect to have the framework available by April 2012. The Government will consult on a draft.

Raoul Wallenberg (Memorial) Bill

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what files his Department holds on the Raoul Wallenberg (Memorial) Bill of Session 1989-90; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: The Department for Communities and Local Government holds no files on the Raoul Wallenberg (Memorial) Bill of Session 1989-90.

Rented Housing: Peterborough

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the Homes and Communities Agency allocated to  (a) Axiom Housing Association and  (b) Minster Housing Association for (i) social rented housing and (ii) intermediate housing in Peterborough constituency in (1) 2010-11, (2) 2011-12 and (3) 2012-13; and if he will make a statement.

Grant Shapps: The Homes and Communities Agency has not given any new allocations through the National Affordable Housing Programme to either Axiom or Minster Housing Associations in 2010-11 for schemes being developed in Peterborough. Existing commitments for Axiom Housing Association schemes in Peterborough are forecast to spend a total of £993,000 in 2010-11, of these funds £955,500 is to deliver social rented homes and £37,500 is for affordable home ownership.
	New allocations for 2011-12 and 2012-13 will be made later in the year following the commencement of the new Affordable Homes Programme from April 2011.

HEALTH

Asthma: Drugs

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the potential savings to the public purse arising from the use of high dose corticosteroids for the treatment of asthma.

Paul Burstow: The Department has made no such assessment. The goal of asthma treatment is to control symptoms so that people with asthma can lead lives unconstrained by their asthma. Patients whose asthma is well-controlled have fewer exacerbations and fewer hospitalisations, which is better for patients, and for the national health service.

Blood: Contamination

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department provides to GPs and health professionals to assist them in dealing with victims of contaminated blood.

Anne Milton: The Department is informing general practitioner (GPs) and other health care professionals through its regular bulletins, that if they have previously known a patient who had been infected with hepatitis C by national health service supplied blood or blood products and who died before 29 August 2003, they should contact the patient's representative(s) to advise them that they will be eligible to make a posthumous claim for an ex-gratia payment from the Skipton Fund.
	There is generic information and advice about hepatitis C for GPs and other health care professionals on the NHS hepatitis C awareness website at:
	www.nhs.uk/hepatitisc/hcp
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence have also published guidance on the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Generic guidance on the treatment of HIV has been published by the British HIV Association.

Cancer: Drugs

Cathy Jamieson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much funding he plans to allocate to the Scottish Government from the Cancer Drugs Fund in 2010-11.

Simon Burns: None. Health matters in Scotland are a matter for the Scottish Government who make their own funding decisions.

Care UK: Prisoners

Jon Trickett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the monetary value is of the contract given to Care UK for the treatment of prisoners; and what assessment he has made of the compatibility of the award of the contract with his Department's procedures and guidance on tendering.

Paul Burstow: We do not hold information centrally about local national health service contracts. Primary care trusts are responsible for their own contracting arrangements and decisions.
	However, the Department expects commissioners to adhere to guidance on the procurement of health services published in July 2010(1), which aims to ensure that contracts for NHS-funded health services are awarded to the provider(s) that best meet the needs of patients and delivers best value for taxpayers.
	(1) Procurement guide for commissioners of NHS-funded services, Department of Health, July 2010.

Darent Valley Hospital: Complaints

Gareth Johnson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many complaints about Darent Valley Hospital were recorded in each quarter of the last four years.

Simon Burns: Information on the number of complaints received by national health service organisations is collected by the NHS Information Centre (IC) and the published data are available on the NHS IC's website at:
	www.ic.nhs.uk/statistics-and-data-collections/audits-and-performance/complaints

Diabetes: Rochdale

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much NHS funding was allocated to Rochdale for the treatment of  (a) type-1 and  (b) type-2 diabetes in the latest period for which figures are available; and what the average amount of NHS funding per parliamentary constituency was for the treatment of (i) type-1 and (ii) type-2 diabetes in that period.

Paul Burstow: The Department does not allocate funding specifically for the treatment of type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
	Diabetes is a complex condition that can affect every part of the body, which means that it is difficult to calculate how much money has been allocated for the treatment of diabetes. It is for national health service organisations to determine the healthcare needs of their local populations and to allocate resources appropriately to meet those needs.

Diabetes: Rochdale

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of young people in Rochdale suffering from undiagnosed  (a) type-1 and  (b) type-2 diabetes.

Paul Burstow: The Department is unable to accurately estimate the number of young people with undiagnosed diabetes in Rochdale.
	However, the Association of Public Health Observatories' diabetes prevalence model for England provides estimates of the number of people aged 16 years and older who have diabetes (diagnosed and undiagnosed). The model estimates that for Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust, in 2010 prevalence of diabetes (both type 1 and type 2, diagnosed and undiagnosed) was 8.2% of the population. The same model estimates prevalence of diabetes in England as 7.3%. It also estimates that there are 800,000 people with undiagnosed diabetes.

Diabetes: Rochdale

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many young people in Rochdale have been diagnosed with  (a) type-1 and  (b) type-2 diabetes; and what the average number of young people diagnosed with (i) type-1 and (ii) type-2 diabetes is per parliamentary constituency.

Paul Burstow: This information is not collected centrally. However, the latest figures available from the National Diabetes Audit for the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Primary Care Trust (PCT) indicate that 5,605 people had a diagnosis of diabetes. Of these, 44 were below the age of 16, of which the majority had type 1 diabetes, with the remainder having type 2 diabetes. 21 practices out of 38 within the PCT area participated in the 2008-09 audit.

End of Life Care

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from hospitals on the route to success in end of life care paper published by his Department in June 2010.

Paul Burstow: "The route to success in end of life care-achieving quality in acute hospitals" was published by the National End of Life Care Programme. The national programme, which is based in the national health service, is a key implementation driver, spreading and facilitating good practice in end of life care.
	The document was written at the request of clinicians and with the input of clinicians.
	It recommends:
	effective holistic assessment, advance care planning and rapid discharge arrangements to enable people to go home if they wish;
	training in relevant tools, such as the Liverpool Care Pathway;
	improved working together, training and support for staff; and
	stronger board oversight and support.
	We have received no representations on the document, although the Department has been informed by the national programme that it has been welcomed by those in the field.

Eyesight: Lighting

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether his Department has made an assessment of the effects on people with sensitive eye conditions of introducing low energy light bulbs under the EU directive; and whether it has made an assessment of the number of people who may be affected.

Anne Milton: The Health Protection Agency (HPA) carried out a study on the emissions from commercially-available compact fluorescent light bulbs which included both visible light and ultraviolet (UV) emissions. The results have been published ("Optical Radiation Emissions from Compact Fluorescent Lamps" M Khazova and J B O'Hagan, Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 2008, 131(4):521-525; doi:10.1093/rpd/ncn234). This paper is available at:
	http://rpd.oxfordjournals.org/content/131/4/521.full.pdf+html
	The Department undertook a literature review on lighting and light sensitive and neurological conditions to inform Government discussions with the European Commission on non-directional lighting measures. The Department made the scientific references available to the Scientific Committee on Emerging and Newly Identified Health Risks (SCENIHR) for its Opinion on Light Sensitivity published on 23 September 2008, which is available at
	http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_scenihr/docs/scenihr_o_019.pdf
	The SCENIHR Opinion considered certain eye conditions along with other photosensitive and neurological conditions. SCENIHR observed that,
	"due to the lack of relevant data, the number of all light sensitive patients in the European Union, who might be at risk from the increased levels of UV/blue light generated by compact fluorescent lamps is difficult to estimate. However, a preliminary rough estimation of the worst case scenario yields a number of around 250,000 individuals (around 0.05 per cent. of the population) in the EU."
	Firm figures for the United Kingdom are not available, but the SCENIHR statistics would equate to around 30,000 to 40,000 people that might be affected in the UK. SCENIHR is currently updating its 2008 Opinion.
	The Department is continuing to work with the HPA, patient groups, clinicians and the lighting industry to keep the health issues under review.

General Practitioners

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will publish responses to his proposals for GP consortia outlined in the Health White Paper.

Simon Burns: The Government's response to the consultation "Liberating the NHS: Legislative framework and next steps" summarises the responses received to the consultation on the White Paper "Equity and excellence: Liberating the NHS", and associated consultations, including "Commissioning for Patients". A list of organisations which responded to the consultation is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/@ps/documents/digitalasset/dh_123342.pdf

General Practitioners

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to  (a) pilot GP consortia and  (b) evaluate the outcome of the pilots.

Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Bill 2011 will provide for general practitioner (GP) consortia to be established from April 2012, prior to taking on full statutory responsibilities from April 2013. The Department has established a rolling programme of GP consortia pathfinders to test the different elements involved in GP-led commissioning and enable emerging GP consortia to get more rapidly involved in current commissioning decisions.
	The shadow NHS Commissioning Board will produce and publish an analysis of the findings of the pathfinder programme and set out the lessons learned that will be applied as consortia become formally established during 2012-13.

General Practitioners

Dave Watts: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals for GP consortia his Department has received to date; and what criteria his Department is using to assess the merits of such proposals.

Simon Burns: The Health and Social Care Bill 2011 will provide for general practitioner (GP) consortia to be established from April 2012, prior to taking on full statutory responsibilities from April 2013. The Department has established a rolling programme of GP consortia pathfinders to test the different elements involved in GP-led commissioning and enable emerging GP consortia to get more rapidly involved in current commissioning decisions.
	Groups of GP practices keen to participate in the pathfinder programme put themselves forward to their strategic health authority (SHA). SHAs will approve any group of practices to become a pathfinder if they can demonstrate clinical leadership, local authority engagement, and an ability to contribute to the delivery of the local Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention agenda in their locality. They will need to be able to operate in the context of the existing service and financial plans in the health communities they are working in.
	The 52 pathfinders announced in December 2010 are already operational and assuming increased commissioning responsibilities from their primary care trusts under existing legislation. A further 89 groups were announced on 17 January 2011.

General Practitioners

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he plans to put in place for the governance for GP commissioning bodies.

Simon Burns: All consortiums will be required to have a constitution, which they will have to share with the NHS Commissioning Board as part of the establishment process. We are clear that consortiums should define their own governance processes within a broad framework set out in legislation. The constitution of a consortium will have to outline the process for making decisions, dealing with conflict of interest, and ensuring effective participation by all constituent practices. The Health and Social Care Bill will provide for the NHS Commissioning Board to issue guidance to consortiums on the form and content of their proposed constitution, drawing for example on the principles of good governance in public life.
	In addition, all consortiums will also be required to have an accountable officer, who will play a key leadership role. Our legislative proposals give the accountable officer specific responsibilities for ensuring that a consortium complies with its financial duties, promotes continuous improvements in the quality of services it commissions and provides good value for money.

General Practitioners: Complaints

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health who will be responsible for handling unresolved constituency complaints brought by hon. Members against GP consortia under his proposals for NHS reform.

Simon Burns: If a complainant or their representative is not satisfied with the outcome of a complaint at local level, we envisage that, subject to parliamentary approval, the complainant will have the right to take their complaint to the Health Service Commissioner.

Heart Diseases: Finance

Paul Maynard: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many NHS trusts provided funding for transcatheter aortic valve implantation in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how much funding was allocated by each individual NHS trust for transcatheter aortic valve implantation in 2009-10.

Simon Burns: The Department does not hold this information centrally.

HIV Infection: Children

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of children in the UK who have HIV/AIDS.

Anne Milton: There were 899 children living with diagnosed HIV infection and accessing HIV care in the United Kingdom in 2009, the latest year for which data are currently available.

HIV Infection: Children

Simon Kirby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will estimate the number of children in the UK who are living with parents who have HIV/AIDS.

Anne Milton: The Health Protection Agency, which is responsible for national surveillance of HIV, advise that the information necessary to make such an estimate, is not available.

Insulin: North West

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will assess the uptake of insulin pumps in the North West; and what steps he plans to take to increase the uptake of insulin pumps.

Paul Burstow: The Department does not collect information on the uptake of insulin pumps at a local level. However, NHS Diabetes and the NHS Information Centre for health and social care recently published the findings of an audit to assess the provision of insulin pump services across England. The insulin pump audit is available via the National Diabetes Information Service.
	The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines along with international evidence are clear on usage and benefits of these devices.
	Dr Rowan Hillson, the National Clinical Director for diabetes is currently chairing a working group considering the steps that need to be taken to increase uptake of insulin pumps. The recently published NHS Operating Framework for 2011-12 also highlights the need to do more to make these devices available.

Intensive Care: North West

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many days intensive care beds in  (a) Greater Manchester and  (b) the North West were put under centralised gold control since 1 December 2010.

Simon Burns: NHS North West commenced strategic health authority 'command and control' across the region on 17 December 2010. NHS North West remained in 'command and control' for 32 days, until 17 January 2011.

Mental Health Services: Children

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans his Department has to collect data on  (a) the number of people accessing child and adolescent mental health services and  (b) the use of such services;
	(2)  what steps his Department plans to take to collect information on the number of staff employed by  (a) local authorities and  (b) the NHS delivering child and adolescent mental health services after March 2011; for what reason he ended the Children's Services Mapping project; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Burstow: Following extensive consultation with experts and key stakeholders, the Department is developing a new secondary uses dataset covering child health, maternity and child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) as a key driver to achieving better outcomes of care for mothers, babies and children. The dataset will provide comparative, linked data that can be used to plan and commission services. The dataset will cover such things as referrals to CAMHS, encounters, care planning, interventions, in-patient stays and outcome measures.
	The Department is consulting on its proposals to establish a new framework for developing the health care work force, including the CAMHS work force and seeking views on the systems and processes that will be needed to support it.
	Until now, data on the number of people accessing CAMHS, and the use of such services, have been collected as part of the Children's Services Mapping Project (CSM). The Department's contract with Durham University for this project expires on 31 March 2011. While the CSM project has done valuable work to develop new approaches to the gathering of information on child health and well-being, it no longer meets stakeholders' needs for robust and reliable benchmarking information that would inform service quality and value for money decisions in the current economic climate. The board of the Child and Maternal Health Observatory has concluded that the best course is to discontinue the service from the end of the current contract.

Mental Health: Armed Forces

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on the effect of his proposed health reforms on members of the armed forces from  (a) England and Wales and  (b) Scotland receiving specialist medical treatment in the NHS in England as a result of injuries sustained in service.

Simon Burns: The care of armed forces personnel receiving specialist medical treatment as a result of injuries sustained in service will not be directly affected by the reforms planned for the national health service in England.
	The NHS reforms and future commissioning of services in relation to the health of the armed forces their families and veterans is high on the agenda of the Ministry of Defence (MOD)/United Kingdom Departments of Health Partnership Board. This board, which is co-chaired at a senior level by the Department of Health and the MOD has, as board members, representatives from the devolved administrations. Through the work of the Partnership Board, the Department of Health, MOD and the devolved Administrations have agreed a protocol for seriously injured personnel. This protocol will ensure that those who are seriously injured as a result of their service in the armed forces are transitioned from Mod care to the NHS as smoothly as possible ensuring that ongoing health needs are appropriately met.

Mental Health: Armed Forces

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment he has made of the provision of mental health services to women.

Paul Burstow: No such assessment has been made. However, there is considerable evidence on the different rates of mental health problems in men and women, particularly on how differently men and women express their problems and their willingness to seek help from services. The Government's new mental health strategy which we will soon be publishing highlights a number of examples of different problems across the two sexes and outlines effective interventions.

Midwives: Manpower

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the likely change in the number of midwives employed in the NHS  (a) by December 2011 and  (b) in each subsequent year up to and including December 2014.

Anne Milton: We are unable to provide this information at this moment. However, when the operating planning process is completed, plans and forecasts will be available. Strategic health authority plans will be signed off by 31 May 2011.
	The Government are committed to training the numbers of midwives needed, subject to the birth rate, and is considering ways of helping improve midwife recruitment and retention.
	The planned number of midwives in training in 2010-11 is 2,493-a record level. We expect there will be a sustained increase in the number of new midwives available to the service over the next few years. However, it is for local healthcare providers to decide how best to organise their work force to achieve better outcomes and value for money. Local managers and employers, while required to conform to national standards, must be free to manage their own maternity teams to meet the needs of the communities they serve.

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence: Macular Degeneration

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance  (a) his Department and  (b) the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence provides to clinicians on the treatment of age-related macular degeneration.

Simon Burns: The Department has not provided guidance to clinicians on the treatment of age-related macular degeneration.
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued technology appraisal and interventional procedures guidance to the national health service on the treatment of age-related macular degeneration. NICE's guidance can be found on its website at:
	http://guidance.nice.org.uk/Topic/Eye

Neurology: Continuing Care

Fiona Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has plans to review and simplify the decision support tool document for people suffering from end stage neurological conditions who apply for continuing healthcare.

Paul Burstow: We have published a Fast Track Pathway Tool for assessing national health service funded continuing health care for patients with rapidly progressing conditions, which may be entering a terminal phase. This is a simplified version of the decision support tool, and can be used by an appropriate clinician with detailed knowledge of the patient's needs.

NHS: Negligence

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been paid out by the NHS in compensation for medical negligence claims in each of the last five years.

Simon Burns: The information requested is in the following table. The information was obtained from the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA).
	Information on how much has been paid out in compensation for medical negligence claims in each of the last five years.
	
		
			   Damages (£) 
			 2009-10 556,670 
			 2008-09 558,497 
			 2007-08 463,831 
			 2006-07 428,460 
			 2005-06 409,278 
			  Notes: 1. It is difficult to interpret the data in a meaningful way purely because the data relates to payments made. The values cannot be attributed to claims made in that year, claims settled in that year, nor incidents that occurred in a given year. Payments made may relate to claims or incidents that occurred many years previously, especially where the claims may be complex. 2. It should be noted that in all years figures include repayments from previous years: for example where a payment was made into court as a settlement offer in one financial year and then received this could be received back the following year if the final settlement figure was lower. Occasionally, therefore, these figures may be less than zero. 3. In order to protect the confidentiality of individual patients, the NHSLA has not given precise figures where the number of claims/potential claims received in a year was fewer than five or the amounts paid out were lower than £5,000.

NHS: Negligence

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much the NHS spent on legal fees and costs in responding to medical compensation claims in each of the last five years.

Simon Burns: Information on how much has been paid out in legal fees and costs in responding to medical compensation claims in each of the last five years is shown as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2009-10 230,321,000 
			 2008-09 210,729,000 
			 2007-08 169,494,000 
			 2006-07 150,930,000 
			 2005-06 151,030,000 
			  Notes: 1. It is difficult to interpret the data in a meaningful way, purely because the data relate to payments made. The values cannot be attributed to claims made in that year, claims settled in that year, nor incidents that occurred in a given year. Payments made may relate to claims or incidents that occurred many years previously, especially where the claims may be complex. 2. In order to protect the confidentiality of individual patients, the NHSLA has not given precise figures where the number of claims/potential claims received in a year was fewer than five or the amounts paid out were lower than £5,000.  Source: The data requested have been supplied by the National Health Service Litigation Authority (NHSLA).

NHS: North West

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  if he will estimate the level of occupancy of children's intensive care beds in  (a) Greater Manchester and  (b) the North West since 1 December 2010; [R]
	(2)  if he will estimate the number of cancellations of elective operations in  (a) Greater Manchester and  (b) the North West since 1 December 2010; and what the reasons for such cancellations were in each case.

Simon Burns: The Department is currently undertaking a review to determine the best approach to publication of management information which allows the national health service locally and the Department to gauge individual health economy operational problems. This review is expected to be completed shortly.

NHS: Scotland

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the Scottish Executive on the effect of his proposed reform of the NHS in England on the NHS in Scotland.

Simon Burns: The Secretary of State and his counterpart, Nicola Sturgeon MSP, have been in correspondence regarding the changes to the national health service in England and the provisions in the Health and Social Care Bill.
	Officials from both Governments have worked together on the drafting of the Bill to make sure that arrangements for joint working are maintained and negative impacts on the NHS in Scotland avoided.

NHS: Scotland

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether GPs in England will be permitted to commission services for patients in England from the NHS in Scotland under his proposed reform of the NHS.

Simon Burns: Commissioners of national health service services will be free to commission from the best provider that meets the needs of their patients, as long as the provider is registered with the Care Quality Commission and licensed by Monitor where this would be required by law.

North East Strategic Health Authority: Redundancy

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the 10 highest single payments are which have been made to an NHS employee in redundancy payment in trusts in the North East strategic health authority area in 2010-11.

Simon Burns: The information requested is not held centrally.

Primary Care: Public Expenditure

Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what proposals for efficiency savings in the NHS his Department has received from primary care trusts since his appointment.

Simon Burns: Primary care trusts have been working to design plans for improving the quality of services and making efficiency savings to be reinvested in front line care.
	In December the Department published the revised Operating Framework setting out the priorities for the national health service over the next financial year and setting out the expectations against which their performance will be managed.
	Draft plans will be published in line with the timetable set out in the Operating Framework.

Rochdale Infirmary

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to make a decision on the future of  (a) the accident and emergency unit and  (b) the maternity unit at Rochdale Infirmary.

Simon Burns: This is a matter for the local national health service.
	This Government are committed to devolving power to local communities-to the people, patients, general practitioners (GPs) and councils who are best placed to determine the nature of their national health services locally. The Government have pledged that all service changes must be led by clinicians and patients, not be driven from the top down. To this end, we have outlined new, strengthened tests that decisions on NHS service changes must meet.
	They must focus on improving patient outcomes; consider patient choice; have support from GP commissioners; and be based on sound clinical evidence.
	We have asked the local NHS to look at how schemes that are ongoing meet these new tests-including those that impact on the Rochdale Infirmary, namely Healthy Futures.
	We are clear that services should be driven by the need to improve patient outcomes. NHS North West board has agreed that the evidence provided for Healthy Futures has met the four tests and should therefore proceed.

Rochdale Infirmary

Simon Danczuk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent discussions he has had with NHS executives in Rochdale on diabetic care at Rochdale Infirmary.

Paul Burstow: No recent discussions have taken place between the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale primary care trust and the Department or Ministers with regard to diabetic care at Rochdale Infirmary.

South London Healthcare NHS Trust

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent estimate his Department has made of the number of  (a) medical and  (b) non-medical vacancies at South London Healthcare NHS Trust.

Simon Burns: Figures on the numbers of medical and non-medical vacancies at South London Healthcare National Health Service Trust as at 31 March 2010 are provided in the following table.
	
		
			  Total and three month vacancy rates and numbers for all Hospital and Community Health Services (HCHS) doctors (excluding doctors in training and equivalents) and all non-medical staff at South London Healthcare NHS Trust 
			   Total vacancy rate (percentage)  Total vacancy (number)  3 month vacancy rate (percentage)  3 month vacancy (number) 
			 All HCHS doctors (excluding doctors in training and equivalents) 4.3 17 0 0 
			 All non-medical staff 0.8 40 0 0 
			  Notes: 1. Data are from the Vacancies Survey 2010 as at 31 March. 2. A vacancy is defined as one which employers are actively trying to fill as at 31 March. 3. Total vacancy rates are total vacancies expressed as a percentage of total vacancies plus staff in post from the previous September medical and dental and non-medical work force censuses (full-time equivalent). 4. Three month vacancies are vacancies as at 31 March which trusts are actively trying to fill which had lasted for three months or more (full-time equivalents). 5. Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post from the previous September medical and dental and non-medical workforce censuses (full-time equivalent). 6. Vacancy numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number. 7. Percentages are calculated on unrounded figures and are then rounded to one decimal place.  Sources: The NHS Information Centre for health and social care Medical and Dental Vacancies Survey. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care Non-Medical Vacancies Survey. This work remains the sole and exclusive property of The Information Centre and may only be reproduced where there is explicit reference to the ownership of The Information Centre.

Steroid Drugs: Essex

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many units of each inhaled corticosteroid have been prescribed in South East Essex Primary Care Trust in each of the last five years.

Paul Burstow: Prescribing information broken down by primary care trust (PCT) is available only for the four most recent complete financial years. Information on inhaled corticosteroid items prescribed in the South East Essex PCT area is shown in the following table. The figures relate to items prescribed rather than units as the term unit can mean different things for different drugs and a unit of one drug may not be comparable with a unit of another due to variation in the formulations.
	
		
			   Number of items prescribed (thousand) 
			  Name of items prescribed  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Beclometasone Dipropionate 32.8 31.3 30.3 30.7 
			 Budesonide 16.8 17.7 20.2 22.1 
			 Ciclesonide 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.1 
			 Fluticasone Propionate 38.0 42.1 45.3 48.6 
			 Mometasone Furoate 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 All inhaled corticosteroids 87.8 91.3 96.0 101.6 
			  Notes: 1. South East Essex PCT came into existence in October 2006 as an amalgamation of two existing PCTs, namely Southend-on-Sea PCT and Castle Point and Rochford PCT. Figures for financial year 2. 2006-07 are the sum of prescribing from all three PCTs combined.  Source: NHS Information Centre for health and social care.

Suicide

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 13 January 2011,  Official Report, column 459W, on suicide prevention strategy, whether he expects his Department's suicide prevention strategy to be published before 30 April 2011; and what definition of spring his Department uses.

Paul Burstow: It is currently our intention to publish the suicide prevention strategy before 30 April. This Department does not use a precise definition of the seasons, but the months generally considered to be spring are March, April and May.

Tobacco

Graham Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he plans to  (a) publish his Department's Tobacco Control Plan and  (b) announce his plans for implementation of point of sale display legislation and consultation on the introduction of plain packaging.

Anne Milton: As set out in November's White Paper "Healthy Lives, Healthy People", the Tobacco Control Plan is due to be published in the winter of 2010-11.
	We want to make it easier for people to make healthy choices. The Tobacco Control Plan will set out details of what more we intend to do to protect children from taking up smoking and to help those trying to quit, including our plans for the display and plain packaging of tobacco.

Visual Impairment

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make the reduction of avoidable sight loss an indicator in the public health outcome framework.

Anne Milton: The Public Health White Paper, 'Healthy Lives: Healthy People', set out our intention to establish a public health outcomes framework. We are currently consulting on proposals for such an outcomes framework and ask within the consultation document 'Healthy Lives: Healthy People-Transparency in Outcomes', a copy of which has already been placed in the Library, a question on the coverage of the proposed indicators. We are seeking views on which other indicators should be included for consideration within the list.
	Subject to the outcome of the consultation-including the consideration of new or different indicators proposed by stakeholders-we will publish a final outcomes framework for public health in the summer of this year.

Wrightington Hospital

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will meet the hon. Member for West Lancashire and clinicians to discuss the future of the Wrightington Hospital site.

Simon Burns: This Government are committed to devolving power to local communities-to the people, patients, general practitioners (GPs) and councils who are best placed to determine the nature of their national health services locally. The Government have pledged that all service changes must be led by clinicians and patients, not be driven from the top down. To this end, we have outlined new, strengthened tests that decisions on NHS service changes must meet.
	They must focus on improving patient outcomes; consider patient choice; have support from GP commissioners; and be based on sound clinical evidence.
	Any proposals for significant change to services at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust will be expected to take these tests into account and be subject to full consultation with members of Parliament, clinicians, patients, the public and other interested stakeholders.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Primary Elections

Jon Trickett: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  what discussions he has had with representatives of political parties on proposals for all-postal primaries;
	(2)  what consultation he has undertaken on proposals for all-postal primaries;
	(3)  when he plans to announce his proposals on all-postal primaries;
	(4)  what expressions of interest he has received in holding all postal-primaries;
	(5)  which civil service unit will be responsible for administering funds for the proposed all-postal primaries; and to which Minister it will report;
	(6)  how many seats held by each political party will receive funding for all-postal primaries under his proposals;
	(7)  what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of the proposed 200 all-postal primaries at the next general election;
	(8)  from which budget the proposed all-postal primaries will be funded;
	(9)  what discussions he has had on proposed all-postal primaries since his appointment;
	(10)  whether he plans to bring forward legislative proposals in relation to all-postal primaries.

Mark Harper: holding answer 31 January 2011
	 The Government have not made a detailed assessment of the cost of funding the all-postal primaries, and no decisions have yet been taken on how funds would be allocated to political parties or administered.
	I have not held discussions with representatives of political parties on this issue and have not undertaken any formal consultation on the proposal. To date, no expressions of interest have been received in holding all-postal primaries, although I have received correspondence and parliamentary questions requesting further information on the Government's proposals.
	The Government have embarked on a major programme of constitutional reform, including the introduction of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies (PVSC) Bill which provides for a referendum to be held on the voting system for the House of Commons and for a review of constituency boundaries in order to create fewer and more equally sized constituencies. The Government's proposals for a boundary review under the PVSC Bill-where the number of MPs will be reduced from 650 to 600-will have particular implications for all-postal primaries which we will need to consider. I would highlight the point made by the Boundary Commissions Secretaries when they appeared before the Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee that all seats (with the exception of the constituencies of Orkney and Shetland and Na h-Eileanan an Iar) are likely to be affected by the boundary review. As a consequence, far fewer will meet the criteria set out in the coalition programme.
	We will consider how best to take forward the proposal concerning all-postal primaries in light of these other significant changes impacting upon our electoral process.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Energy Saving Trust: Finance

John Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what proportion of the funding of the Energy Saving Trust was contributed by his Department and each devolved administration in 2009-10; and what he expects the figure to be for 2011-12.

Gregory Barker: The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) contributed 67% to the Energy Saving Trust's (EST) total turnover in 2009-10. This figure is based on information in EST's 2009-10 annual review.
	DECC will grant fund EST to deliver comprehensive, high quality telephone and online advice to consumers in 2011-12. However, DECC has not yet finalised the grant funding level.
	The devolved Administrations should be contacted directly for the proportion of funding they contribute to EST.

Energy Supply: Costs

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the average system cost in 2030 of electricity per kWh generated by  (a) unabated coal-fired power stations,  (b) unabated gas-fired power stations,  (c) carbon capture and storage-equipped coal-fired power stations,  (d) carbon capture and storage-equipped gas-fired power stations,  (e) new-build nuclear power stations,  (f) onshore wind turbines,  (g) offshore wind turbines and  (h) solar photovoltaics;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the average system cost of electricity generation per kWh of  (a) unabated coal-fired power stations,  (b) unabated gas-fired power stations,  (c) carbon capture and storage (CCS) equipped coal-fired power stations,  (d) CCS-equipped gas-fired power stations,  (e) new build nuclear power stations,  (f) onshore wind turbines,  (g) offshore wind turbines and  (h) solar photovoltaics in 2020;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the average system cost of electricity generation per kWh for  (a) unabated coal-fired power stations,  (b) unabated gas-fired power stations,  (c) carbon capture and storage (CCS) equipped coal-fired power stations,  (d) CCS-equipped gas-fired power stations,  (e) new nuclear power stations,  (f) onshore wind turbines,  (g) offshore wind turbines and  (h) solar photovoltaics.

Charles Hendry: Last year DECC commissioned Mott Macdonald to give a comprehensive update of the costs of power generation technologies including how costs are likely to change over time. The costs in these report do not include "system costs". System costs relate to a specific generation mix rather than a specific generation technology. The Mott Macdonald report can be found through the following link:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/statistics/projections/71-uk-electricity-generation-costs-update-.pdf
	Key information is summarized on pages 67 to 70.

Energy: Housing

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what the name is of each energy efficient product and measure which is to be eligible for funding under the Green Deal.

Gregory Barker: The Government will set out in secondary legislation the criteria to determine the types of measures that will be eligible for Green Deal finance. These will be defined in consultation with industry and stakeholders in 2011.
	A key element of the Green Deal finance arrangements is that only measures that can demonstrate payback through energy efficiency savings, which are equal to or greater than the installation costs, will qualify. The criteria will therefore be based on evidence related to the performance and cost effectiveness of measures, and are likely to specify that measures must be those which are fixed to the fabric of buildings.

Energy: Housing

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps his Department is taking to encourage the takeup of energy efficient glazing; and what steps it is taking to ensure glazing is a viable measure in the Green Deal.

Gregory Barker: The most energy efficient glazing is eligible for support through the current Carbon Emissions Reduction Target. In addition, the Government are taking forward the Energy Bill which will promote the uptake of energy efficiency measures through a Green Deal. The Green Deal will enable the installation of a range of energy efficiency products in buildings at no upfront cost.
	The measures eligible for Green Deal finance will be based on criteria set out in secondary legislation, which will be formally consulted on later this year. Our initial assessments suggest that glazing may, in some cases, qualify for some level of finance.

Fuels: Prices

Naomi Long: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what steps he plans to take to mitigate the adverse effects of regional variations in fuel prices on  (a) economic activity and  (b) social cohesion in rural areas.

Charles Hendry: The Government recognises the impact that high fuel costs in rural areas can have on the local economy and community, and is committed to investigating ways of ameliorating these effects. The Government are exploring the relationship between energy consumers in fuel poverty and those who are off the gas grid and opportunities for consumers in rural areas to benefit from carbon reduction and renewable energy initiatives. The Government have also announced its intention to introduce a pilot scheme that will deliver a maximum of 5p per litre duty discount on petrol and diesel in the most remote rural areas.
	The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has launched a market study into the supply of off-grid energy which is anticipated to cover competition and consumer issues for heating oil, liquid petroleum gas and renewables. The study will provide an independent assessment of the off-grid market and establish what further action may be necessary to ensure it works properly.

Natural Gas

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many applications for test-drilling using the process of hydraulic fracturing for  (a) shale-gas and  (b) coal bed methane have been (i) submitted and (ii) approved; and what the location is of each.

Charles Hendry: The Department has received applications for, and given drilling consent to, two wells targeted on shale and eighty-four wells targeted on coalbed methane in the UK. The shale gas wells are located in Lancashire and the coalbed methane wells are located in the following regions: Cheshire, Clackmannanshire, Clwyd, Cumbria, Dumfries and Galloway, Fife, Glamorgan, Humberside, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Lothian, Mid Glamorgan, Merseyside, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Yorkshire.
	All drilling operations are subject to notification to the Health and Safety Executive. The environmental implications would be assessed on a site specific basis by the relevant environmental agency (in England and Wales, the Environment Agency, and in Scotland, the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency) who regulate discharges to the environment as well being a statutory consultee in the planning process.
	The Department does not retain information on the use of hydraulic fracturing, but this technique is standard for gas shale production and can also be employed in coalbed methane development.

Natural Gas

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will assess the proposals in the report on shale gas by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.

Charles Hendry: The Department has been looking at the Tyndall Centre report. The Tyndall Centre report's key proposal is that shale gas extraction in the UK should be delayed until clear evidence of its safety can be presented, and that we should await for results of the US EPA investigation.
	As I said in the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 20 January 2011,  Official Report, column 942W, there is a robust regulatory regime in place, the technology is understood, and on the basis of available information, the Department sees no need for a moratorium on shale gas activities in the UK.
	The UK's geology and regulation is different from the US. It should not be assumed that US experience will necessarily be equally relevant to UK conditions or to the UK regulatory framework.

Natural Gas

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he has examined the  (a) legislative and  (b) regulatory framework relating to drilling for shale gas and coal bed methane; and if he will make a statement.

Charles Hendry: The UK has a robust regulatory regime to cover shale gas and coal bed methane activities. In the answer I gave on 24 January 2011,  Official Report, column 67W, I set out the regulatory bodies and provisions in place relevant to these activities.

Natural Gas

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will examine the potential effects of the extraction of shale gas and coal bed methane in the UK on performance against the Government's objectives for  (a) reducing carbon emissions,  (b) energy security and  (c) energy affordability.

Charles Hendry: Shale gas and coal bed methane have not yet been commercially proven on a large scale in the UK, so it is too early to examine any potential effects on the Government's objectives in relation to carbon emissions, energy security and energy affordability. However, we will be keeping this under review.

Natural Gas

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what assessment he has made of the potential effects of shale gas and coal bed methane extraction on the development of low-carbon energy sources.

Charles Hendry: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 20 January 2011,  Official Report, column 941W.

Natural Gas: Prices

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what forecast he has made of the average wholesale price of natural gas in each of the next 20 years.

Charles Hendry: DECC does not produce forecasts for wholesale natural gas prices. However, for the purposes to inform government analysis of different policy options DECC does produce a set of fossil fuel price assumptions, including a set of price assumptions for spot wholesale natural gas prices.
	The document "Communication of DECC Fossil Fuel Price Assumptions" sets out the current set of assumptions and can be found on DECC's website here:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/statistics/projections/file51365.pdf
	DECC intends to review and publish a new set of assumptions in the near future.

Nuclear Power

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change for what reasons the information contained in his Department's Press Notice: 2011/007 of 24 January 2011 on liabilities for nuclear operators was not first released to Parliament through a written ministerial statement.

Charles Hendry: Not all consultations are announced through a written ministerial statement. However, I did inform the chairman of the Energy and Climate Change Committee and copies of the consultation document have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what account he took of proposals for the construction of new build nuclear power plants in other countries in each of the next 20 years in developing his proposals for nuclear plant construction.

Charles Hendry: It is for energy companies rather than Government to develop proposals for nuclear plant construction in the UK. Government's role is to remove any unnecessary barriers to investment in new nuclear.
	Although increasing demand for nuclear power plants could present challenges it is the project developers who are best placed to manage the supply chain and ensure that the necessary skills are available. I meet regularly with energy companies and they have not expressed any concern that proposals for new nuclear plant overseas will affect their plans for new nuclear in the UK.

Nuclear Power Stations: Construction

Dan Byles: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what account he has taken in his proposals for new nuclear construction of international capacity in respect of  (a) expertise in,  (b) work force skills for and  (c) available investment financing for the construction of new build nuclear power plants.

Charles Hendry: It is for energy companies rather than Government to develop proposals for nuclear plant construction in the UK. To date, three consortium have announced plans to build up to 16GW of new nuclear capacity in the UK by 2025. All three consortium consist of companies which either already operate a nuclear power station somewhere in the world or operate an electricity generating station subject to appropriate health and safety and environmental regulation.
	Government's role is to remove any unnecessary barriers to investment in new nuclear, in particular, delivering on the facilitative actions set out in the 2008 Nuclear White Paper. The Government are also working to provide the long-term certainty needed for clean energy projects, including nuclear, by reforming the electricity market and setting a floor for the carbon price.
	In addition the Sector Skills Council (Cogent) together with the National Skills Academy for Nuclear are playing a leading role working with employers and the Government to ensure that the appropriate skills base is and will be in place to meet the requirements of the nuclear sector.
	Although increasing demand for nuclear power plants globally could present challenges it is the project developers who are best placed to make decisions on the investment climate and the supply chain and skills capacity that exists. My officials and I meet regularly with potential nuclear developers to discuss these issues.

Radioactive Waste: Waste Management

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change if he will place on his Department's website a copy of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's parametric cost model used by his Department in its public consultation on an updated waste transfer pricing methodology for the disposal of higher activity waste from new nuclear power stations.

Charles Hendry: The NDA has developed its parametric cost model to generate updated estimates of the costs of geological disposal. It allows the key parameters that impact on the construction and operating costs of a geological disposal facility in the UK to be varied.
	The way in which the parametric cost model is proposed to be used in the waste transfer pricing methodology is set out in the consultation published on 7 December 2010. More information on the model, and the data that have been derived from it for the purposes of the worked examples in the consultation, was set out in Annex A of the 'Consultation on a Methodology to Determine a Fixed Unit Price for Waste Disposal and Updated Cost Estimates for Nuclear Decommissioning, Waste Management and Waste Disposal', published in March 2010 and available on the Department's website at:
	http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/nuc_waste_cost/nuc_waste_cost.aspx
	The parametric cost model is a detailed model that has been designed as an internal tool to NDA and it is not suitable for publication.

Renewable Energy: Subsidies

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what plans he has for future levels of subsidies for renewable energy.

Charles Hendry: The Government are committed to supporting an expansion in renewable energy deployment through cost-effective incentive mechanisms to help achieve delivery of the UK's renewable energy targets.
	The renewables obligation (RO) is the Government's main financial incentive for renewable electricity. We commenced a scheduled review of the support bands in the RO in October 2010. This will determine the levels of support for large-scale electricity generation from 2013-17. In line with my announcement of 8 December 2010, we are accelerating the banding review so that generators and investors have certainty on support levels by autumn 2011, a year earlier than planned. We confirmed in the spending review that the level of support provided by the feed-in tariffs (FITs) will be reviewed with a view to reducing the scheme's projected costs in 2014-15 by at least £40 million (in nominal prices). Changes would be implemented at the first comprehensive review of FITs, which is expected to take effect from April 2012 unless higher than expected deployment triggers an early review. We expect to be in a position to announce the details of the renewable heat incentive (RHI) scheme, including RHI tariffs and technologies supported, shortly and to open the scheme for business in 2011.
	On 16 December, DECC launched a consultation on electricity market reform (EMR). One of the key aims of the reform is to develop and deliver a new market framework that will enable the cost-effective delivery of secure supplies of low carbon energy into the future. The EMR is intended to provide further certainty, and reduce risk, to investors and generators over revenue, and deliver better value for money for consumers.

TREASURY

Banks: Regulation

Paul Uppal: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is considering to address short-termism in the banking sector.

Mark Hoban: The Government are taking steps to reform the financial sector and address short-termism in a number of areas. First robust capital and liquidity standards, a binding constraint on leverage, as agreed internationally at the November G20 in Seoul, will fundamentally improve the resilience of banks, place banks on a more sustainable footing and focus less on short-term gains.
	The Government are also establishing a Financial Policy Committee (FPC) in the Bank of England to undertake macro-prudential regulation, and a new Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) to carry out micro-prudential regulation. These more specialised and focused regulatory authorities will help to tackle excessive lending and short-termism. In addition from 1 January 2011 the Government have introduced a bank levy that is likely to raise £2.5 billion. The levy is intended to encourage banks to move to less risky and longer-term funding profiles.
	Finally the Government have also taken significant steps to improve corporate governance arrangements and strengthen the link between remuneration and performance. These measures improve the quality of internal oversight and strengthen the alignment of remuneration with risk taking, as well as improving transparency and facilitating better shareholder oversight, all of which will reduce the potential for short-termism.
	The FSA have revised their Remuneration Code and new rules came into force on 1 January 2011 that ensure bonuses are deferred over a number of years and are linked to the performance of the employee and their firm. In addition, significant portions of any bonus will be paid in shares or other securities. In addition, on 25 October 2010 the Government issued a paper calling for evidence on governance and short-termism. The paper considered whether there are failures in corporate governance and the markets. The aim was to investigate issues including; the problems of short-termism, investor engagement, directors' remuneration and the economic case for takeovers. The consultation period ended 14 January 2011.

Child Trust Fund

David Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many child trust fund accounts were opened in the period from 1 April 2010 to 4 January 2011.

David Gauke: 624,000 child trust fund accounts were opened between 15 March 2010 and 15 December 2010. Figures are not available for the precise period requested by the hon. Member.

Departmental Libraries

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) certified and  (b) chartered librarians his Department has employed in each year since 2000.

Justine Greening: No central records are held relating to this and information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Economic and Monetary Union

William Cash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what occasions between 7 and 11 May 2010 the then Chancellor of the Exchequer had discussions with  (a) the right hon. Member for Tatton and  (b) the right hon. Member for Twickenham; what was discussed; for what reasons the then Chancellor of the Exchequer initiated discussions with the right hon. Member for Twickenham; and if he will make a statement on the matter before the meeting of the European Committee at which the Financial Stabilisation Mechanism will be considered.

Mark Hoban: holding answer 31 January 2011
	All contact between the Treasury and the opposition parties followed the agreed Cabinet Office guidelines for the 2010 general election.

Financial Inclusion Fund

Ian Austin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what representations he has received from the Citizens Advice Bureau on the ending of the Financial Inclusion Fund; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with  (a) the Citizens Advice Bureau,  (b) the Insolvency Helpline and  (c) other organisations on the ending of the Financial Inclusion Fund.

Mark Hoban: Treasury Ministers and officials have contact with a wide variety of organisations in the public and private sectors as part of the process of policy development and delivery. As was the case with previous Administrations, it is not the Government's practice to provide details of such contacts.

Financial Inclusion Fund

Iain Wright: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to establish a successor scheme to the Financial Inclusion Fund from 31 March 2011; and if he will make a statement.

Mark Hoban: The Financial Inclusion Fund has always been due to close in March 2011. The Government have not yet taken a decision on the future of the projects currently funded from the Financial Inclusion Fund.
	The Government remain committed to helping poorer households to access appropriate financial services, to improve their financial resilience and to avoid falling into unsustainable levels of debt.

Inheritance Tax

Nicola Blackwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the Exchequer of giving brothers and sisters who share the same property the same rights of exemption from inheritance tax as those provided to married couples.

David Gauke: Inheritance tax is not usually paid on transfers between spouses and civil partners. The cost of extending this to siblings who share the same property was estimated to be £1 million in 2008-09 based on the numbers of estates where siblings were living together at that time, but this does not include any behavioural effects such as siblings who might decide to share a property if there was an inheritance tax relief which could significantly increase the cost.
	Married couples and registered civil partners also receive a transferable nil rate band that increases the available threshold on the death of the second partner. An estimate of the cost of extending this to siblings is not available.

Pregnant Women: Grants

David Hanson: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many health in pregnancy grants were issued in the period from 1 April 2010 to 3 January 2011.

David Gauke: The exact information requested is unavailable. However, it is estimated that there are around 750,000 qualifying pregnancies for the health in pregnancy grant each year, based on National Statistics projections of births.

Public Expenditure

Simon Kirby: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress his Department is making in implementing the spending reductions set out in the comprehensive spending review; and if he will make a statement.

Danny Alexander: The Government are fully committed to delivering the spending plans set out in the 2010 spending review and Departments are working with their delivery bodies to implement the savings necessary to live within their budget settlements.

Public Sector: Pensions

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effects on gender equality of his proposals for reform of public sector pensions.

Danny Alexander: holding answer 27 January 2011
	The Government launched the Independent Public Service Pension Commission chaired by Lord Hutton last June to conduct a fundamental structural review of public service pension provision which will report to the Chancellor of the Exchequer before Budget.
	Ahead of the spending review Lord Hutton produced an interim report which found that the value of public service pensions had been increasing following dramatic increase in life expectancy at retirement. Current pensioners are expected to spend over 40% of their adult lives in retirement, compared to 30% for pensioners in the 1950s. Most of these extra costs have fallen to employers and taxpayers.
	At the spending review, based on the clear rationale set out in Lord Hutton's interim report, the Government announced that they would implement progressive changes to the level of employee contributions to public service pensions that lead to an additional saving of £1.8 billion a year from 2014-15, to be phased in from 2012-13. This is equivalent to three percentage point increase on average. In taking this decision, the Government considered a range of factors including the impact on gender equality.
	In addition, the Government announced their intention to launch consultations on the discount rate used to set contributions in unfunded public service pension schemes and the Fair Deal policy. Any assessment of the impact on gender equality will be undertaken in due course should there be any proposals to change policy.

Students: Loans

John Pugh: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Office for Budget Responsibility will take into account liabilities under the student loan scheme in its assessment of Government debt.

Justine Greening: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), and I have asked the OBR to reply.
	 Letter from Robert Chote, dated 25 January 2011:
	As Chair of the Budget Responsibility Committee of the Office for Budget Responsibility I have been asked to reply to your recent question.
	The forecast for public sector net debt in the November Economic and fiscal outlook included the impact from higher student loans. Box 4.3 on p123 of the November Outlook provides further details of the assumptions underlying the projection for student loans.

Taxation: Holiday Accommodation

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will instruct HM Revenue and Customs to disregard the period for severe winter weather over Christmas 2010 and new year 2010-11 in calculating the amount of time properties have been let when determining whether a property qualifies as a holiday cottage.

David Gauke: A property must be let for at least 70 days in the tax year to come within the furnished holiday letting rules for 2010-11. There are no plans to relax this requirement on account of the weather over Christmas 2010 and new year 2010-11.
	The Government have proposed an increase in the required let period to 105 days in the tax year from April 2012. However, the Government have also proposed that a business that fails to satisfy the condition in one or two years would be able to elect to continue to qualify for treatment as furnished holiday lettings provided it satisfies the other requirements to do so.

VAT

Graeme Morrice: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review his policy on the recovery of value added tax by charitable providers of social care and NHS services.

David Gauke: Charities can, and do, recover VAT subject to the normal VAT rules. They also benefit from a number of VAT zero rates and exemptions, in addition to many other tax reliefs.
	The Government continue to look at ways of ensuring that VAT does not act as a barrier to the reform of public services where such options are open to us and affordable within agreed funding arrangements. For example, we are continuing to work closely with charities and other sectors to explore options for implementing the EU VAT exemption for cost sharing, and the recent announcement of a new VAT refund scheme for academy schools demonstrates the Government's willingness to create a level playing field for VAT where this can be done in a fair, targeted and affordable way.
	However, a general VAT recovery scheme for all charities would not be affordable or well-targeted; nor would it be fair to reimburse those charities which are in competition with other service providers.

VAT: Public Houses

Gemma Doyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effect on community pubs of the rise in the basic rate of value added tax.

David Gauke: No specific assessment has been made of the economic impact of the VAT rate increase on community pubs. The impact assessment published with the Budget in June 2010 provides information on the compliance costs to business overall of the VAT rate increase, but not at sector level.

VAT: Tax Rates and Bands

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the effects of the increase in the rate of value added tax on the construction industry in the North East.

David Gauke: No specific assessment has been made of the economic impact of the VAT rate increase on the construction industry in the North East. The impact assessment published with the Budget in June 2010 provides information on the compliance costs to businesses generally of the VAT rate increase.

Working Tax Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of recipients of working tax credits who have household savings above £16,000.

David Gauke: No estimate has been made of the household savings of working tax credit recipients.

Working Tax Credit

Stephen Timms: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many recipients of working tax credits he expects to be affected by the £16,000 savings limit on universal credit; and if he will estimate the average annual sum such recipients will not receive as a consequence of the limit.

Chris Grayling: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have committed to providing protection to ensure that households in receipt of the predecessor benefits will not experience a reduction in their income as a result of the introduction of universal credit.

CABINET OFFICE

Big Society Bank

Matthew Offord: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what recent progress his Department has made on establishing the big society bank.

Nick Hurd: The Government have been making good progress with setting up the big society bank and are still on course to have some functions in place by April, then building towards a fully operational bank. It will be ready to make initial investments by early summer, which is when we expect the first dormant accounts money to become available.

Charities: Fraud

Matthew Offord: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office whether fraudulent charity collections will form a part of his review of the Charities Act 2006.

Nick Hurd: I can assure my hon. Friend that the review of charity legislation later this year will include looking at the way charity collections are regulated with a view to making it easier for charities while protecting public confidence and deterring fraudulent collections and nuisance.

Citizenship: Young People

Michael Dugher: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how many places he expects to be available on the National Citizenship Pilot schemes for young people aged 16 years in Barnsley East constituency in 2011.

Nick Hurd: While it is not possible to state precisely the number of National Citizen Service scheme places available to young people in the Barnsley East constituency, I am pleased to confirm that the Football League Trust working with Barnsley Football Club will be providing 100 NCS places across Barnsley in summer 2011.

Departmental Public Appointments

Fiona Mactaggart: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  what public appointments he has made since his appointment; and to what payments each person so appointed is entitled;
	(2)  how many  (a) women and  (b) men have been appointed to public duties by his Department since May 2010.

Francis Maude: Since May 2010, there have been no public appointments made to Cabinet Office non-departmental public bodies.
	However, information on key public appointments made is published in individual press releases. These should include information on remuneration.
	In addition, information on the gender of those serving on the boards of public bodies is published annually. Information for the 2010-11 period will be published in due course.

Departmental Regulation

Gordon Banks: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what regulations his Department has removed since 6 May 2010.

Francis Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr Redwood) on 22 November 2010,  Official Report, column 140W. The position in the Cabinet Office has not changed since then.

Government Departments: ICT

Charlie Elphicke: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office how much Government Departments budgeted for expenditure on IT in 2010-11; and what changes to forecast expenditure there have been as a result of his policy on IT procurement since May 2010.

Francis Maude: We do not collect total spend on IT.
	However, we expect substantial savings to arise from IT procurement policies introduced by this Government, including the Moratorium on new spend which commenced in May 2010. Department accounts, published at the year end will provide a fuller indication of the impact of these policies on department expenditure. But as an early indication of the size of savings accruing from the ICT Project Review process, Departments reported the curtailment of 229 projects to gross, compound value of £1 billion.

Government Departments: Procurement

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what single tender contracts the Government has awarded in the last 12 months.

Francis Maude: This information is not held centrally and cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost.
	Public sector contracts should normally be awarded following a fair and open competition in accordance with EU procurement directives. These directives do contain a number of derogations from the advertising requirements, including such circumstances as where there is only one provider able to supply the goods or services, the purchase of goods on commodity markets, extreme urgency, and a few circumstances where it has become necessary to procure additional services or goods from the same provider. Any use of those derogations has to be justified by the authority and applied strictly, with only exceptional departures from the normal advertising requirements.
	In line with the Government's transparency commitments, all central Government Departments are now required to publish new contracts over £10,000, and associated tender documents, on 'Contracts Finder':
	www.businesslink.gov.uk/contractsfinder/

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  how many candidates were considered for appointment to the secretariat of the Chilcott Inquiry;
	(2)  how many candidates were considered for the post of Secretary to the Chilcott Inquiry on the war with Iraq.

Francis Maude: The Cabinet Secretary decided to nominate the Secretary to the Iraq Inquiry and agreed the appointment with the Chairman of the Inquiry. The Secretary will normally recruit the supporting team in consultation with the Chair of the Inquiry. This is a matter for the independent Inquiry.
	Both the Cabinet Secretary and the Chairman of the Inquiry agreed that the Secretary to the Inquiry should be a senior individual in the civil service ideally with relevant background and experience in foreign and defence policy issues. The Cabinet Secretary decided to nominate the Secretary to the Iraq Inquiry and agreed the appointment with the Chairman of the Inquiry. No other individuals were nominated.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office 
	(1)  whether the Chilcott Inquiry on the war with Iraq has requested permission to publish any document relating to policy of  (a) the Department of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs,  (b) the Ministry of Defence and  (c) the Defence and Overseas Secretariat in the Cabinet Office which bears the name of the Secretary to the Inquiry and was prepared during her tenure as deputy head of the Defence and Overseas Secretariat;
	(2)  whether the Cabinet Office has received any requests from the Chilcott Inquiry to publish documentation relating to policy on Iraq in the  (a) Foreign and Defence Secretariat and  (b) Defence and Overseas Secretariat of the Cabinet Office during the period from November 2004 to July 2009.

Francis Maude: The protocol between the Iraq Inquiry and HMG regarding documents and other written and electronic information sets out the arrangements under which the Inquiry may request that the Government declassify documents for the Inquiry's public use and the grounds on which such requests may be refused.
	Documents that the Government have declassified are available on the Inquiry's website. The majority of the Inquiry's declassification requests has been met. Where no agreement is reached about a form in which the information can be published, it would remain open to the Inquiry to refer, in its report, to the fact that material it would have wished to publish has been withheld from publication.

Pupils: Discipline

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's Managed Moves Policy document.

Francis Maude: The Cabinet Office managed move policy has been placed in the House of Common's Library.

Regulation

Mel Stride: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office what steps he is taking to reduce levels of  (a) regulation and  (b) administrative requirements; and what assessment he has made of progress against his Department's objectives in this respect.

Francis Maude: The Government are committed to reduce the levels of regulation. There have been several recent government-wide initiatives to reduce regulation, including the one-in one-out system introduced in September 2010 which requires policy makers to address and minimise the net cost to business and civil society. The Government also intend to publish a forward statement of regulation, providing an overview of the Government's regulatory plans up until June 2011.
	Voluntary work is hampered by a thicket of bureaucracy that uses up time and money and causes frustration that can discourage volunteering. The Government are determined to cut this bureaucracy, which is why we have set up a Civil Society Red Tape Taskforce chaired by Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts. The taskforce is addressing the question "what can we do to cut red tape for small organisations?" The taskforce is looking at a range of issues that we know cause difficulties for charities including funding, licensing, employment law, and insurance and will report in the spring.
	The Behavioural Insights Team in the Cabinet Office works with Departments to help develop policies that encourage positive behaviours, using insights from behavioural economics and behavioural science that do not require regulation or legislation.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Jon Trickett: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office when he plans to answer question 36145, on a Civil Service register of interests, tabled on 20 January 2011 for named day answer on 25 January 2011.

Francis Maude: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 26 January 2011,  Official Report, columns 313-14W.